New film dramatizes struggle to get the truth about use of torture by U.S. [Opinion] By David A. Leslie Nov. 21, 2019 Comments Annette Bening as Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Adam Driver as Congressional staffer Daniel Jones in the new political drama "The Report," written and directed by Scott Z. Burns. TTR_0532.dng Annette Bening as Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Adam Driver as Congressional staffer Daniel Jones in the new political drama "The Report," written and directed by Scott Z. Burns. TTR_0532.dng Photo: Atsushi Nishijima / Atsushi Nishijima

For most of us in this country pre-9/11, the use of torture by our government could best be described as “out of sight and out of mind.” Then came the shocking pictures from the Abu Ghraib prison that made clear that the U.S. government was torturing prisoners captured during the invasion of Iraq. No longer a secret, torture became part of the national lexicon and caused a collective moment of introspection as to the ethics, morality and efficacy of systemic brutality meantto harm, punish and humiliate the prisoner in the vein of despotic and totalitarian governments throughout the world.

Throughout the years, the Rothko Chapel has presented and heard many personal testimonies from people all over the world who have experienced the devastating impact of torture on both body and spirit. These programs and stories allow us to engage with people who have been tortured. We probe critical questions. What happens to a society when torture becomes mainstreamed? How does it impact accepted ethical and spiritual systems? Is the use of torture inline with the ethics of the world’s leading democracy? Why do we still have prisoners of war languishing in solitary confinement and still awaiting trials? Why does the U.S. government resist efforts to fully declassify the Senate Intelligence Committee report on the CIA’s rendition, detention and interrogation program? Continued public engagement is needed to further education, reflection and dialogue on an unresolved issue that continues to demand our attention today.

Toward this end, Amazon’s new movie, “The Report,” opens this week at theaters across the country, including at 14 Pews in Houston. The story is about Daniel Jones, lead investigator for the US Senate’s sweeping study into the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program, which was found to be brutal, immoral and ineffective. With the truth at stake, Jones battled tirelessly to make public what many in power sought to be hidden. He did what he thought was right at risk of his career and even his freedom. From my perspective as a person who has been actively involved in ending the use of torture and promoting healing of those who were subjected to torture as victim and perpetrator alike, “The Report” is an important film that shows the need for truth telling about previous wrongs; a necessary part of the reconciliation process and essential to preventing a repeat of the same policies and practices in the future.

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The invitation for us to join the movement to help our nation take the highest moral ground possible related to ending the use of torture in all parts of the U.S. government is straightforward: Go see “The Report” at 14 Pews begining Dec. 1, or watch it on Amazon Prime beginning Nov. 29; join local and national efforts calling for the release of the full Senate report; and add your voice to those who say “No to torture.” In doing so, we ensure a more just and perfect union.

Leslie is a board member of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and

executive director of the Rothko Chapel.