What kind of people are we?

I'm probably not the only person who is mystified by the current national debate about the merits of torturing prisoners. Of late the focus has been on whether torture ever did or ever will yield useful intelligence. But what's the point? Speaking strictly from my own Christian bias, I recall that Jesus was a victim of brutal investigation (Luke 22:63-65) and torture (Matthew 27:24-26). And the only thing he ever had to say about the treatment of prisoners was that it is incumbent upon his followers to visit them (Matthew 25:36).

If there's a Christian argument that supports torturing people, I want to hear it. In the meantime, the national debate may at least make it clear just what kind of people we're going to be in this country.

JOHN H. RICE, Jackson