Reply #24: Of course... almost... here is what that was about...

[Piewhacket]

The discussion was not a diversion, it was the main course.

In the movie "The Rose" medieval monks hold an Ecumenical conference
to debate whether Christ "owned the clothes he wore". It is the framing
of a question who's enormous import was whether the Church itself
should own property.

We confer to decide whether water-boarding is torture. The reason the
debate was so vicious and vigorous is because the stakes were high .
For all engaged in it knew, that if water-boarding was torture and illegal
(and it is), then all the rest was illegal.

The debate was actually a trial, to present that those who had engaged in
such things should be reviled by humanity.

Thank you for your wonderful comment/question.