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The Blindfold's Eyes: My Journey from Torture to Truth
Sister Dianna Ortiz, an American Ursuline nun working in Guatemala, was abducted and tortured by government security forces. She escaped and lived to tell of her ordeal, and her subsequent quest for truth and healing, in this memoir.
484 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 28, 2011
I remember, on the ride back from the panel discussion, mentioning to our local DC director of TASSC that it seemed so pointless for Katherine Gallagher of the Center for Constitutional Rights to continue to pursue indictments against American officials in foreign courts. Gallagher and the CCR have been attempting to prosecute members of the Bush and Obama administrations for their involvement in torture carried out during the 10 year “War on Terror”. There is a legal opening pertaining to torture that allows international jurisdiction. But does it really matter? What is the point of attempting to take down members of the most powerful empire on earth? Who would enforce it? The panel discussion was held on June 1 in Washington, and featured the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, himself a survivor of torture from Argentina.
The pointlessness that I felt, and heard in Gallagher’s tired voice, was the same feeling I had while reading of Sister Dianna Ortiz’s attempts at obtaining justice for her torture in Guatemala in 1989. She had, unfortunately, been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and had fallen under the dark umbrella of “CIA assets”. She takes us through an account that undoubtedly has been repeated thousands of times: the reality of walking through the dog and pony show that victims receive when coming up against a government bent on protecting its controversial “interests”, regardless of who the victims are.
The US government commits torture today. We know that now, and official documents state this fact. I doubt that there has ever been a time when the US has not supported torture in some way. Any amount of reading and critical thinking will raise questions about our domestic and foreign policy and will uncover nightmares if one digs far enough. Ortiz own investigation and interviews of Guatemalan and American officials, along with the work of her lawyers and the review of declassified documents was enough to tell her that there was some serious American support of torture and murder going on in Guatemala, and that was continuing to go on when the book was published in 2002. That is without seeing the many additional classified documents about her case that remain closed to the public.
Ortiz was subjected to abduction, burns, gang-rape and the forced torture/murder of another woman during her ordeal in 1989. Her story is only one of thousands quite similar that have come out of Latin America and all over the world. The question in my mind when reading accounts like this is what can we do about it? It was the same question that Ortiz struggled with, and the “doing something about it” was for a long time her only motivation to continue living.
As I was talking about the panel discussion with our director, it was obvious to me that the most effective action we could take begins from the ground up, not from the other direction as Gallagher was attempting. Maybe Katherine Gallagher and others like her are doing some good by continuing to be active on the international level. However, reading a book written by someone like Dianna Ortiz, and listening to similar tearful accounts in my daily work at TASSC, puts a human face on all of the madness that our government practices in the world today. It is hard to be involved in this work. It drains a person emotionally and physically, and will drive one insane with anger if they allow it. However, the victims more than anything need someone to be there to listen; to validate; to point out the way to healing and purpose. To simply stand beside them as they try to piece their lives back together. This is where the real difference can be made: at the grassroots. We practice the principles of love in our world through the individual contacts we make. As power grows, it moves further and further from humanity. To return to that humanity, we focus on the micro, on the person, the individual. Then we see our own humanity reflected in the other, and realize, like Ortiz, that power doesn’t have to be all pervasive. Faith in humanity can be restored in others by the way we choose to live our own lives.
The pointlessness that I felt, and heard in Gallagher’s tired voice, was the same feeling I had while reading of Sister Dianna Ortiz’s attempts at obtaining justice for her torture in Guatemala in 1989. She had, unfortunately, been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and had fallen under the dark umbrella of “CIA assets”. She takes us through an account that undoubtedly has been repeated thousands of times: the reality of walking through the dog and pony show that victims receive when coming up against a government bent on protecting its controversial “interests”, regardless of who the victims are.
The US government commits torture today. We know that now, and official documents state this fact. I doubt that there has ever been a time when the US has not supported torture in some way. Any amount of reading and critical thinking will raise questions about our domestic and foreign policy and will uncover nightmares if one digs far enough. Ortiz own investigation and interviews of Guatemalan and American officials, along with the work of her lawyers and the review of declassified documents was enough to tell her that there was some serious American support of torture and murder going on in Guatemala, and that was continuing to go on when the book was published in 2002. That is without seeing the many additional classified documents about her case that remain closed to the public.
Ortiz was subjected to abduction, burns, gang-rape and the forced torture/murder of another woman during her ordeal in 1989. Her story is only one of thousands quite similar that have come out of Latin America and all over the world. The question in my mind when reading accounts like this is what can we do about it? It was the same question that Ortiz struggled with, and the “doing something about it” was for a long time her only motivation to continue living.
As I was talking about the panel discussion with our director, it was obvious to me that the most effective action we could take begins from the ground up, not from the other direction as Gallagher was attempting. Maybe Katherine Gallagher and others like her are doing some good by continuing to be active on the international level. However, reading a book written by someone like Dianna Ortiz, and listening to similar tearful accounts in my daily work at TASSC, puts a human face on all of the madness that our government practices in the world today. It is hard to be involved in this work. It drains a person emotionally and physically, and will drive one insane with anger if they allow it. However, the victims more than anything need someone to be there to listen; to validate; to point out the way to healing and purpose. To simply stand beside them as they try to piece their lives back together. This is where the real difference can be made: at the grassroots. We practice the principles of love in our world through the individual contacts we make. As power grows, it moves further and further from humanity. To return to that humanity, we focus on the micro, on the person, the individual. Then we see our own humanity reflected in the other, and realize, like Ortiz, that power doesn’t have to be all pervasive. Faith in humanity can be restored in others by the way we choose to live our own lives.
Read
March 3, 2012It has been awhile and many books since I read this book. It was on my church's book club list.
It was frightening to read what humans can do to other humans.
Dianna's abduction was only approximately 24 hours but she saw people who had been tortured physically and mentally for long periods of time.
Their only crimes were for not beliving in the "regime of the day."
Not an easy read but thought provoking.
After reading this book, I said a prayer for sister Ortiz complete recovery from the haunting images she was still experiencing.
Nancy Roberts
It was frightening to read what humans can do to other humans.
Dianna's abduction was only approximately 24 hours but she saw people who had been tortured physically and mentally for long periods of time.
Their only crimes were for not beliving in the "regime of the day."
Not an easy read but thought provoking.
After reading this book, I said a prayer for sister Ortiz complete recovery from the haunting images she was still experiencing.
Nancy Roberts
Want to read
March 30, 2009This is the story of a catholic nun who was raped and tortured in Guatemala and became an activist to try to get the US to admit it's involvement in atrocities in Guatelmala.
Her story is very famous...and I just learned that my housemate lived in community w/ her for several years!! They're friends! Amazing. So i have to add her book to my list.
Her memoir is said to be one of the finest of the genre.
Her story is very famous...and I just learned that my housemate lived in community w/ her for several years!! They're friends! Amazing. So i have to add her book to my list.
Her memoir is said to be one of the finest of the genre.
November 11, 2007
If you ever had questions about the role the US plays in the world, this book will answer them in a terrifying way.
May 8, 2014
A must!
March 28, 2021
A very difficult, painful read. The author went through what can only be described as horrific torture, and spent many years in a painful search for truth about what happened to her and the extent of the US government’s role in it. No one should have to live through what she did, and she did a great service by sharing her story. However, while it’s a very important story that should be widely shared, I did not think the book was well written.
May 22, 2008
This book is not for the faint of heart. While working with children as member of the Ursuline Order in rural Guatemala, Sister Dianna was kidnapped and taken to the police headquarters in Guatemala City, where she was raped and tortured in multiple ways. Her struggle to work her way back from trauma that was so severe that she could not recognize her family to becoming strong enough to fight for information about what happened to her and scores of others is hard to read at times. It is well worth the effort to become educated about victims of torture and their fights with every level of government to expose the truth behind their terrible ordeals.
July 21, 2008
Incredibly moving. Sister Diana delivers a powerful and emotional recollection of her experience being tortured and the years she has spent recovering. I knew very little about Central American politics before reading this book, and what I learned from it made me interested enough to seek out more info. A very valuable book for anyone seeking to understand either the politics that can lead a government to condone torture or the experience of surviving torture.
March 29, 2014
A great deal of historical background including how much the U.S. was involved in the atrocities carried out in Guatemala. Heartbreaking reading about what the author and others went through at the hands of the Guatemalan military. Honest and gut-wrenching story of what evil people can do to others. The author is a strong woman who never gave up in finding out the truth about who was involved in her abduction, torture, and rape. I greatly admire her strong spirit and forgiving heart.
January 24, 2008
This book will make you angry. It made me angry with foreign policy and with the general mistreatment of human rights, and with lawyers, and with everyone. It is powerful and well written. The details of her case became difficult for me to follow in the last third of the book. An overwhelming impression is left on any reader of this book.
March 12, 2010
piercing tale of the effects of US policy in a good hearted nun that is serving in guate
June 22, 2015
Extremely difficult to read given the content, but so important for understanding part of the recent history and current reality of Guatemala.
October 19, 2012
Powerful and heart wrenching. You will not think the same way you did about anything before reading Dianna Ortiz's account of her torture in Guatemala.
February 26, 2013
The beginning was great. But towards the end it dragged a little. Very graphic.
June 13, 2020
Powerful.
Sister Dianna Ortiz takes the reader through her kidnapping, torture in Guatemala and her healing and activism in the United States. Ortiz was tortured for only 24 hours, but the torture was ended once her disappearance was announced in the United States. An American, who was in charge of the torturers, came in and stopped the torture and attempted to take Ortiz somewhere, when she escapes. It is almost unbelievable what Ortiz went through both in Guatemala and her fight to learn the truth. I felt Ortiz was able to bring the reader with her through all her emotions, suffering, and pain. Some of the accusations made against Ortiz are outlandish and the United States officials that made them should be ashamed of themselves.
Many parts of the book are very detailed, especially the parts involving the various departmental investigations in the United States. Ortiz often publishes her full letter or speech within the book. She infers at the end of the book that she felt she needed to make her own report to defend herself and tell her story completely. This book is her report, as she finds all of the reports done by the United States government to not be complete or inaccurate. When Ortiz describes her reactions to certain events and her flashbacks, it almost paints her as weak - but this woman is actually full of courage and strength. Although I am not surprised, I am upset that Sr. Dianna was never able to find out the complete truth of her kidnapping and torture.
Absolute necessary read.
Sister Dianna Ortiz takes the reader through her kidnapping, torture in Guatemala and her healing and activism in the United States. Ortiz was tortured for only 24 hours, but the torture was ended once her disappearance was announced in the United States. An American, who was in charge of the torturers, came in and stopped the torture and attempted to take Ortiz somewhere, when she escapes. It is almost unbelievable what Ortiz went through both in Guatemala and her fight to learn the truth. I felt Ortiz was able to bring the reader with her through all her emotions, suffering, and pain. Some of the accusations made against Ortiz are outlandish and the United States officials that made them should be ashamed of themselves.
Many parts of the book are very detailed, especially the parts involving the various departmental investigations in the United States. Ortiz often publishes her full letter or speech within the book. She infers at the end of the book that she felt she needed to make her own report to defend herself and tell her story completely. This book is her report, as she finds all of the reports done by the United States government to not be complete or inaccurate. When Ortiz describes her reactions to certain events and her flashbacks, it almost paints her as weak - but this woman is actually full of courage and strength. Although I am not surprised, I am upset that Sr. Dianna was never able to find out the complete truth of her kidnapping and torture.
Absolute necessary read.
April 12, 2021
5 stars for the story of the Sr. Ortiz's ordeal and the courage that she showed in handing it and attempts to seek justice
3 stars for the editing
The Blindfold's Eye is the moving memoir of Sr. Dianna Ortiz. Especially in light of current political events concerning immigration and out of respect for Sr. Ortiz's recent passing, its release is most timely. My full appreciation was hampered, though, by its uneven editing. The book is long (484 pp) but it seemed that there was repetition. It also appeared to this reader that the style was inconsistent - sometimes I would come across insertions, change of vocabulary that did not flow in line with past writing, and some basic grammar errors. A list of govt and group acronyms at the front of the book for reference would prove helpful should it be re-released in the future.
3 stars for the editing
The Blindfold's Eye is the moving memoir of Sr. Dianna Ortiz. Especially in light of current political events concerning immigration and out of respect for Sr. Ortiz's recent passing, its release is most timely. My full appreciation was hampered, though, by its uneven editing. The book is long (484 pp) but it seemed that there was repetition. It also appeared to this reader that the style was inconsistent - sometimes I would come across insertions, change of vocabulary that did not flow in line with past writing, and some basic grammar errors. A list of govt and group acronyms at the front of the book for reference would prove helpful should it be re-released in the future.
September 17, 2020
Torture is not an easy subject. This woman writes with great courage about what happened to her for 24 hours in Guatemala in 1989. I didn't know about torture, so I didn't know about the long-lasting effects. She was scared and haunted for many years. In one way you could say it ruined her life for many years. It shattered her faith, which is a huge deal considering she was a nun. She persevered, against many odds, wanting justice for the Guatemalan people. Many people did not believe her and actively fought her getting the word out. The US government tried to cover up what happened to her. Disgusting.
Not an easy read, but an eye opener. Kudos to her courage for living through the aftermath and insisting on justice, courage for going back over it all to write this book.
Not an easy read, but an eye opener. Kudos to her courage for living through the aftermath and insisting on justice, courage for going back over it all to write this book.
April 5, 2021
This book will be one of the most impactful books I will ever read. To learn first hand, from a victim of horrific torture, what our government has been doing secretly and continues to do regardless of people's attempts to expose it, not only in South America, but all over the world, is appalling. Though it's a painful read, and sometimes confusing, it's also a clear window into what trauma does to a person, and how slow and hard healing comes, if it ever comes. (Dianna Ortiz recently died of cancer in February 2021.) Whenever people praise the high ethics and freedom of the United States government, I would like to place this book in their hands, and ask them to say that again after they have read the experiences of Dianna Ortiz. She is one of thousands and more with the same story.
March 11, 2022
Should one even be allowed to rate a book like this? This is a true story of horrible, horrific, unspeakable, unimaginable crime perpetrated against the writer. This is her story!
What is it that we rate?
We rate her bravery in telling her story. We rate her bravery in reliving her horror so that we might learn the truth. Torture happens. It is not ok. It is not justified, no matter the “need”.
I would like to thank the author, who unfortunately has now passed away, for letting this story be out part of our history. The US is responsible for her torture both directly and indirectly. The US, that means us, our tax dollars, funded this war, funded this torture, this terror. We must know the truth and she bravely told it.
What is it that we rate?
We rate her bravery in telling her story. We rate her bravery in reliving her horror so that we might learn the truth. Torture happens. It is not ok. It is not justified, no matter the “need”.
I would like to thank the author, who unfortunately has now passed away, for letting this story be out part of our history. The US is responsible for her torture both directly and indirectly. The US, that means us, our tax dollars, funded this war, funded this torture, this terror. We must know the truth and she bravely told it.
February 27, 2021
What a brave, tragic, sad soul. Sister Ortiz's memoir encompasses everything dark and evil about America's inexcusable relationships in the 1970s and '80s with savage right-wing-thug regimes and their torture death squads in Central America, and everything good and pure about those nuns who courageously joined, sometimes even led, and sometimes died on the front lines of opposition in support of the poor and oppressed. Roman Catholic nuns are in fact now almost extinct, but Ortiz's life shows some of them at what was their very finest moments in a pivotal era for the church. This book is long and absorbing, well-written and plaintive. Ortiz died on February 19, 2021, age 62. It was a difficult life, very well lived.
February 11, 2025
This was captivating and haunting the whole way through. Sister Dianna Ortiz has an extremely strong voice throughout her writing and the telling of her story is honest, brave, and eloquent. All I have to say is fuck the American government and especially the CIA. What happened and continues to have consequences in Guatemala will always stick with me. God bless those who have worked tirelessly for decades to support victims of war, violence, and torture.
September 29, 2022
Thank you for sharing your experience with the world within the words of this book. An immensely important read.
August 1, 2024
it was kinda repetitive but so sad and good
February 24, 2008
Our government ain't so nice.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews