The Clarion

Issue date: 11/11/09 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: MCT Campus

Anyone who thinks that Britney Spears, Barney the Dinosaur, and Tupac Shakur have nothing in common, think again; the music of all three has been used by the U.S. government to torture detainees.

The torture playlist, as it were, is as darkly amusing as it is disturbing. Children's songs such as the theme songs for "Barney" and "Sesame Street" are used in the same capacity as Metallica's "Enter Sandman" and "Kim" by Eminem. (The Meow Mix jingle is also allegedly used.) Imagining the context in which these songs were grouped together conjures some disturbing imagery, and I have to say - I'm sure the "Barney" theme works wonders when it comes to torturing someone.

Reports of the American government using deafening, repetitive music as an interrogation tool date back to the late 1980's. It is alleged that prolonged exposure to loud music is a practice used to "break down" inmates for the purposes of obtaining information. The music is often played at a volume that causes auditory damage, shattering eardrums in some cases. The loud music is occasionally accompanied with strobe lights or cold temperatures; sometimes the inmate is restrained or compelled to maintain a painful position, such as being forced to kneel for hours at a time. Sleep deprivation is also coupled with ear-splitting music to break inmates' psyches.

Human rights groups such as Amnesty International have condemned these procedures, citing the physical and mental damage this sort of torture inflicts upon those subjected to it. Some musicians have begun to speak out against the practice, though some musicians (such as members of Metallica and Drowning Pool) have condoned the government's use of their music for interrogation purposes.

Most recently, a coalition of musicians including Tom Morello (of Rage Against the Machine), Roseanne Cash, Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails), R.E.M., and Pearl Jam amongst others, have filed a Freedom of Information request with the Obama administration inquiring about the use of music as a torture device in Guantanamo Bay. Spokespeople for the Obama administration claims that these techniques are not currently employed by military personnel, but have not publicly ruled out the possibility of using music as torture in the future.

I'm of the general opinion that torture of any sort is not a good idea. The information obtained through these techniques completely lacks credibility for obvious reasons. Also, it sullies our international image, rightly portraying us as a violent, brutal and merciless people.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools