Last week, I read an article in our local newspaper that really disturbed me. It seems that music played at excruciating levels has been used as a form of torture against prisoners in the military prison at Guantanamo Bay. A group of artists have filed a Freedom of Information request to find out exactly which songs have been used in this manner.
Apparently this has been going on for quite some time, and the fight against it has been waging for at least a year. This tactic is officially banned by the UN Convention Against Torture, and by several human rights organizations. Some of the songs used include Rage Against the Machine's "Killing In The Name," Metallica's "Enter Sandman" and the Barney TV show theme song.
This is wrong. Music should not be an instrument of torture. The artists put their hearts and souls into their creations, their art. It is meant to stir emotions, not be used to drive people mad. A form of popular culture should not be used as an interrogation technique.
I wholeheartedly support the musicians in this matter and hope it is resolved in their favor.
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