The definition and use of torture is still a topic of debate most every day in Washington, D.C. It’s in the news now as the President attempts to put a new attorney general in place, and it’s also heard occasionally on the presidential campaign trail.

The mere fact that people are debating the use of torture indicates a shift in thinking that overtook Washington in recent years—a shift that further erodes our standing in the league of nations.

Perhaps it cheapens the seriousness of the debate, but to place the matter on a local perspective, the issue of sportsmanship at athletic events comes to mind.

When fans begin to regularly deride officials and opposing players, and when an administration does nothing to interfere, the attitude spreads among other fans and the characteristic of a town changes. That attitude has to be rooted out in order for sportsmanship to return.

“We don’t torture,” says President Bush. That statement can have a dual meaning. First, we don’t always do the work ourselves. The administration’s rendition program has sent prisoners to other countries where the torturing is done for us.

The second point refers to how the word is defined. What’s been generally accepted as torture for decades in the “civilized world” has changed for this administration.

Simulated drowning, for example, is now just a harsh interrogation technique. The same for forcing a prisoner to sleep naked on a cold concrete floor. The President has written his own definition of what’s morally correct for Americans.

Now, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the new America is serving not as the beacon of democracy in the world but as the role model for inhumane action.

“Torture, arbitrary arrest, prolonged detention in violation of right to counsel, incommunicado detention—any country that wants to equip itself either through legislation or just through its practices with these kind of tools uses the example of the United States,” Louise Arbour said.

Torture always works in the movies and on television. Experts who have been involved in interrogation say that’s not true in real life. Forcing someone to provide incorrect information is not a means to this nation’s security.

Torture makes us less safe for a variety of reasons, from endangering our own troops to undermining our missions overseas.

Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani stated the simulated drowning might be OK; It depends on who does it.

When an American is doing it, it’s not right. It goes against what this country has stood for over the last 230 years.