> The U.S. is hardly a paradise of civilization now, for sure, but 40
> years ago black people could barely vote in the south and George
> Wallace was standing in schoolhouse doors; women voted as their
> husbands told them; professionals were almost all white men; there
> was no antiwar movement at all, and the U.S. military could kill
> people by the millions wihtout a peep of protest; people believed the
> government told the truth; schooldays began with a prayer; English
> was the only language you ever heard; you couldn't buy garlic in
> supermarkets. I don't see the point of not acknowledging some
> progress.
OTOH, torture is commonly used in other countries, primarily against their own citizens. e.g. visit the website of National Human Rights Commission of India http://www.nhrc.nic.in/ for info on violation of civil rights.
Ulhas