Are there always shades of truth?

An underlying premise in mediation is the idea that there are possible shades (or at least multiple interpretations) of truth in any given situation. Hence, a dispute may be resolved by discussion if parties were able to see the other person's point of view and understand it (if not accept it). A doctor accused of negligence can understand the parent's anger, even if he/she rejects responsibility for the incident. A spouse can be helped to see how a different perspective would put events in an entirely different light. So we encourage parties to talk on and on, re-framing the language, questioning the assumptions, and at all times seeking a shared reality.

Here's a reality much more difficult to mediate. Is waterboarding torture? Take a look at this article on www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/08/hitchens200808. There's a link to a video showing the waterboarding experiment carried out. It matters to me, a Malaysian, that America stops such questionable interrogation techniques, because I live in a country where questionable interrogation techniques have been alleged to be applied even in regular, non-terrorist, non-war scenarios. Who would have the moral high-ground to tell my government to stop such misconduct if America goes down the road of waterboarding? Zimbabwe?

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E-mail me with your questions or comments at khenghoe@mycounsel.com.my.