Guatemalans ‘Opened Door’ for Terrifying U.S. Experiments
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN, 18 Oct 2010
“In Guatemala, the news has been received with astonishment. … Why did these global swine have to choose our country to carry out such gruesome cruelty? Why avail themselves of the luxury of experimenting on Guatemalans, instead of buying a couple of white mice? Because we ourselves created the context. … We have no law or rules.”
It’s aberrant. While the government of the United States was busy prosecuting Nazis at the Nuremberg Trials for atrocities committed during the Second World War, the American Mengele, a Dr. John C. Cutler, was devoted to injecting soldiers, prisoners and prostitutes in Guatemala with syphilis and gonorrhea to investigate the effectiveness of penicillin.
This research, conducted with complete disregard for the human person, used to Guatemalans as lab rats as if we were an inferior race and disposable. The act of horror was Cutler’s research, which was sponsored with public funds by the health service of the United States.
In the digital forum of The New York Times, many North Americans have commented about this despicable experiment, and it’s clear that many were overcome with shame when learning of the abominations executed by an agency of their own Government.
In Guatemala, the news has been received with astonishment. Since Friday when President Barack Obama reached out to our president to apologize on behalf of the American people, our hair has been standing on end.
Obviously, Washington will have to find a more tangible way than simple words to make amends. While it’s laudable that the White House has acknowledged the error and apologized, when an event is in this league, it’s not enough to say “Oops! I Did It Again,” a la Britney Spears.
Among Guatemalans, the incredulity is multiplied because of the bitterness over how this monstrosity was carried out during the years of the Juan José Arévalo government, the “democratic spring,” our Camelot, when the country was allegedly surrounded by the singing of angels.
Since September 5, a commission of inquiry that should command respect has been formed. Now we can only hope that the doctors on the commission are able to work with U.S. authorities to establish what occurred.
If we wish to salvage something of our national dignity, we have to understand what terms Dr. Cutler proposed for conducting this research, how and why the authorities at the time accepted his proposal, if there was fraud or collusion, and above all, what harm was suffered by the victims and their descendants.
In the process, I have no doubt that many of my compatriots will be entertained for months spewing frogs and snakes in the direction of Uncle Sam. No further cause is required: Cutler and his staff deserve admission to the grand gate of the annals of infamy. (Don’t forget that this is the same man who pursued research in Atlanta that was devoted to observing, for four decades, how syphilis devoured a group of poor African Americans who were systematically denied access to treatment).
We may waste many a long hour hurling every derogatory epithet in the dictionary at our northern neighbors. But if we decide to occupy our time in this fashion, it is to be hoped that the exercise will serve to train us to discuss our responsibilities with the same zeal.
Why did these global swine have to choose our country to carry out such gruesome cruelty? Why avail themselves of the luxury of experimenting on Guatemalans, instead of buying a couple of white mice? Because we ourselves created the context.
We have no law or rules. Violence is the great structural basis for how we order our lives and create relationships, from the cradle to the workplace, right into the bedroom. We complain about the thugs who populate our streets, but the only solution we can come up with and suggest is death.
We produce between 10 and 20 killed every 24 hours, but there have been days we have seen 30: the corpses pile up in morgues and cemeteries. We live in a vortex of destruction. I kill you for a honk or a cell phone, because it’s easier than negotiating with the friend or spouse … it’s a more expeditious way of collecting a debt … Because some people like to eliminate the competition to make it easier to prosper in the marketplace.
Undoubtedly there will be room in the coming months sought by Guatemala of the United States for equitable relief. But the underlying problem will not be resolved until we take responsibility ourselves to create and then strengthen a rule of law that protects all of us: not only the entrepreneur and politician, but the hungry and barefoot in equal measure. And yes, the prisoner, the prostitute and the mentally ill.
__________________________
Medical historian Susan M. Reverby stumbled upon the Guatemala research while exploring the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study in the United States. The revelation has forced President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton to express shock and revulsion over the unconscionable involuntary use of Guatemalans as medical subjects.
Translated By Miguel Gutierrez.
Go to Original – worldmeets.us
DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Read more
Click here to go to the current weekly digest or pick another article:
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN: