August 29, 2007
Mary Pipher
Recently the American Psychological Association
(APA) retreated on banning the participation of psychologists in
Bush Administration
and CIA interrogation sessions, tantamount to what the average person
might call torture. In its defense, the Association claimed that
it was not condoning torture as such and was condemning some specific
interrogation techniques.
But like the Bush Administration in general, the APA position left
enough glaring loopholes to drive a Mack Truck filled with
torture techniques.
Prominent psychologist and author ("Reviving Ophelia")
Mary Pipher, however, would have none of it. As a result of the
APA refusal to ban the presence of psychologists at Guantanamo-like
interrogations, she returned
a Presidential Citation award from
the psychological association that she received in 2006.
In giving back the honor, on August 21 Pipher wrote to the president
of the APA:
I am writing to inform you that I am returning my Presidential
Citation dated 2/02/06 and awarded to me by then President of
the American Psychological Association, Dr. Gerald Koocher. I
have
struggled for many months with this decision, and I make it with
pain and sorrow. I was honored to receive this award and proud
to be a member of APA. Over the years, I have spoken at national
conventions many times and had enjoyed an excellent relationship
with the APA and its staff. With this letter, I feel as if I
am ostracizing a good friend.
I do not want an award from an organization that sanctions its
members' participation in the enhanced interrogations at CIA
Black Sites and at Guantanamo. The presence of psychologists
has both
educated the interrogation teams in more skillful methods of
breaking people down and legitimized the process of torture in
defiance
of the Geneva Conventions.
The behavior of psychologists on these enhanced interrogation
teams violates our own Code of Ethics (2002) in which we pledge
to respect
the dignity and worth of all people, with special responsibility
towards the most vulnerable. I consider prisoners in secret CIA-run
facilities with no right of habeas corpus or access to attorneys,
family or media to be highly vulnerable. I also believe that
when any of us are degraded, all of human life is degraded. This
letter
is as much about us as it is about prisoners.
Well said, Dr. Mary Pipher.
Were that others were so worthy of the BuzzFlash Wings of Justice
Award, which you truly merit this week, with your action of professionalism
and conscience.
* * *
Nominated by David Olson of Minneapolis, MN.
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