Eminent Monsters: A Haunting Tale of Torture and Collusion
The use of torture by governments has always been a contentious issue. While some argue it is necessary to maintain national security, others view it as a gross violation of human rights. Eminent Monsters, a documentary by Stephen Bennett, investigates the roots of this controversial practice and how it has been used by western governments over the years.
The journey starts in Montreal in the 1950s with a Scottish-born psychiatrist, Dr. Ewen Cameron, who experimented on his patients using sensory deprivation, forced comas, and LSD injections. Covertly funded by the Canadian government and the CIA, Cameron’s techniques have been replicated in 27 countries around the world, with repercussions that continue to this day.
The documentary sheds light on how senior American psychologists and military personnel, as well as doctors in Ireland, have aided and abetted torture throughout history. Gripping first-hand accounts from the Hooded Men in Northern Ireland and survivors of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, add gravitas to this deeply disturbing tale.
One cannot help but wonder: how did we get here? How did the use of torture become so entrenched in our governments’ practices? Eminent Monsters seeks answers to these questions by connecting the dots across decades of political and social upheavals.
As disturbing as the subject matter may be, the documentary is a must-watch for anyone grappling with the ethical issues around torture. It lays bare the collusion of doctors and military personnel in controversial programs such as Project MK-Ultra and Operation Phoenix, revealing the widespread complicity in these practices.
If you ever doubted the extent to which western governments have been willing to compromise their own values to protect their interests, Eminent Monsters will make you think again. It is a disturbing, thought-provoking account of how far we have come and a warning of what happens when power becomes an end in itself.
In conclusion, Eminent Monsters is a chilling reminder of the inhumanity we are capable of when unchecked power and authority go unchecked. Every viewer will walk away with a deeper understanding of the complex ethical and moral issues we must navigate if we hope to create a more just and equitable world. Watch it today and witness history in the making.
