by Reid Fitzsimons
We respond to bad things, especially the suffering of others, in different ways, ways often meant to shield us from uncomfortable realities about ourselves. Ignorance, either woeful or willful, is effective, and denial and avoidance also work pretty well. There are those who thrive on the suffering of others, and indeed create it. Sometimes these people are referred to as evil. I guess there are degrees of evil, where at the extreme evil people view not just their victims as a hated enemy, but also those who stand up for those they prey upon.
One of the most profound and widely read books of the 19th century was an antebellum novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The author was abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe, and the legend is that when she met Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War, Lincoln said, “So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war." I contend that people who consider themselves well educated and informed should read this book (though I was over 60 when I finally did, so I’m not sure how that reflects on me). The story is, of course, about slavery, but it’s not some monolithic sermon against slavery, but rather includes all the pitfalls of human nature mentioned above when people confront, or more correctly ignore, evil. The ultimate antagonist is the brutal slave owner Simon Legree, at whose hands Tom is ultimately beaten to death because he was protecting slaves who had run away from the plantation.
Slavery, regardless of where it existed is one of too many examples in history where life was devalued so as to allow malevolence to be tolerated, and where those who refused to accept the inhumanity of it were marginalized and essentially became the enemy of the institutional powers: slavery is evil in its own right, but to justify hatred of those opposed to it took evil to higher level.
Carole Ann Milljour
Hi Reid, I hadn’t had much opportunity to check out some of your recent posts, but I did manage to go through and read this one. So very interesting and thoroughly done! I wish more people would comment because it takes a great deal of time and effort to formulate these articles! Great job as per usual Reid!
I certainly can understand your statement about the left trying to “strip their targets of their humanity so that enough people are willing to throw a little African girl into a pit of pus and infected feces and still somehow can look at themselves in the mirror.” That’s what brainwashing is all about. There are too many sheep and not enough good shepherds to lead the pack back to sanity!
I used to call Obama the Pied Piper because he could make anyone believe anything who didn’t use their brain for more than a hat rack. (I remember my dad saying: Try to use your head for more than just a hat rack”. …my dad had a lot of great quotes to share with us kids!) I don’t know; it is easier to follow then to lead. It takes guts to lead and when one does, watch out for the criticism that will follow …and God knows what else!!!!!
It appears that at my age, do I really care what anyone else really thinks of me? I find I care more about how I feel about myself then to what others may say or think. I try not to get too put off by others. After all, we all have to live with ourselves. I wonder how many people would actually be for abortion, gay rights, black lives matter, etc. if there weren’t organized groups that paid individuals to go out and protest and commit crimes just to make statements? The almighty dollar still speaks loud and clear! So sad for so many to be taken in and cause so much chaos, hate, violence, murder and evil in and around their neighborhoods and all around this great nation! I do believe there will be a rude awakening one of these days and that all this evil will eventually sizzle out for something more appropriate and productive. Maybe being popular in the worst of the worst situations won’t be so popular someday. Not sure if I will see it in my lifetime, but I have hope it will happen. We cannot continue to destroy and fail to build up, because if we do, there won’t be an “US” left. US as in you and I and US as in this great US of A!