Renowned Psychologist, Author Returns APA Award over Interrogation Policy

[Leo 9]

Tuesday, August 28th, 2007
Renowned Psychologist, Author Returns APA Award over Interrogation Policy

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Renowned psychologist and New York Times bestselling author Mary Pipher decided last week to return her Presidential Citation award from the APA in protest. In a letter to the group's president, she wrote, "I have struggled for many months with this decision and I make it with pain and sorrow...I do not want an award from an organization that sanctions its members' participation in the enhanced interrogations at CIA 'black sites' and at Guantanamo."
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The American Psychological Association has come under public criticism once again over its endorsement of professional involvement in CIA and military interrogations.

At its annual convention just over a week ago, the APA's policymaking council voted overwhelmingly to reject a measure that would have banned its members from participating in interrogations at Guantanamo Bay and other US detention centers. In the days since the convention ended, the Houston Chronicle - one of the nation's most-widely read newspapers - criticized the move in an editorial, writing "Psychologists have no place assisting interrogations at places such as Guantanamo Bay."

Then, in an even more dramatic development, renowned psychologist and New York Times bestselling author Mary Pipher decided to return her Presidential Citation award from the APA in protest. In a letter to the group's president, she wrote QUOTE "I have struggled for many months with this decision and I make it with pain and sorrow...I do not want an award from an organization that sanctions its members' participation in the enhanced interrogations at CIA 'black sites' and at Guantanamo."

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http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/08/28/1527210

[Hekate]

1. KnR for an act of conscience. May many others follow Mary Pipher's lead. nt

[saltpoint]

3. Let me please second that, Hekate. Bravo.

[bleever]

2. K5R.

:patriot:

[ReadTomPaine]

4. That's how it's done. K&R

:thumbsup:

[Solly Mack]

5. Good!

K/R

[Lisa]

6. Wow. Professional ethics. Something that * would never understand ...

You rock, Dr. Pipher.


--Lisa (proud to be a social scientist)

[MLFerrell]

7. Good for her!

I applaud her moral fortitude.

Oh, and Leo 9?

Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[midnight]

8. It's nice that this person is standing up to this abuse. Nothing

is as it should be.

[otherlander]

9. K&R

:applause: Thank you, Mary Pipher.


And fuck the APA.

[BlooInBloo]

10. Leading by example - it's a good thing.

[EFerrari]

11. Welcome to DU, Leo 9.

I caught her interview on Democracy Now! Heartening.

[LeftishBrit]

12. Good for her!

[Senator]

13. Failure To Impeach "Sanctions" Too

An object lesson in putting one's own house in order first.

Thanks for posting.

--

[Canuckistanian]

14. The people responsible for the APA policy

Should have their heads examined.

I know they're not really doctors who follow the Hippocratic Oath, but doesn't EVERY professional organization has some sort of creed that actually forbids intentional harm to human beings??

[Emerald]

15. Integrity personified

Dr. Pipher acted in a noble fashion, not just to distance herself from a morally-bankrupt policy decision by the APA, but to expose it to the public. She has been vilified by some in her hometown, where about 15% of the 25% who support Bush's immoral war reside, but her example is inspiring.

[MasonJar]

16. Thank you Dr. Pipher for standing tall for what is right; I hope your decision

will save lives.