Opinion: In Trump’s America, torture is sadly making a comeback

To the editor: “Torture”? This is a word appearing on The Times’ editorial page associated with Chinese water torture, Christian inquisitions and other kinds of human depravity. It is also apparently a current topic of discussion deemed appropriate by the president of the United States of America, the “leader of the free world.” (“Trump needs to stop sending mixed messages on torture,” editorial, Jan. 27)

What god-awful med-ieval nightmare is this? Torture? Are we returning to the national shame of black-ops sites in Eastern Europe? Trump’s views are completely counter to the spirit and soul of America, where close to every jurisdiction has penalties for intentionally inflicting pain on another person.

Americans have defined simple civic rules dictating fair play and harmlessness, and it is time for the new leader of this nation to learn the same on an international level.

Jacqueline Kerr, Los Feliz

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To the editor: Trump wants to do everything within the bounds of what you’re allowed to do legally when it comes to torture. Who exactly is he talking about torturing? Me?

Right now, he is torturing America with his tweets, and senior White House staffers Kellyanne Conway and Sean Spicer are being tortured by having to explain them.

Tony Wood, Redlands

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