The Banality Of Evil

I had hoped that after the posting of Depravity, Disgust and Stupidity - Passing Ignorance Around Like A Venereal Disease, followed by Never Again and that followed by Doctrine Of The Lie perhaps we could move on to normative posts. I find this is impossible.

Additionally, one comment which moved me supremely for many reasons was published today in the comments, but if you read the whole post you will see it here today as well on the blog.

It is the evil seeds that are left behind that are so dangerous. It is the insidious remarks and the inability to understand the banal nature of evil that is so dangerous. It is the absolutely horrendous display of shocking insensitivity coupled with the need to tell lie following lie; with the need to produce some type of legitimacy to hide behind hatred and derision - these are the seeds of evil. They reproduce. They dig deep and turn the heart and soul black.

I can only wonder in disbelief at people who curse, scream, yell and curse again - calling people ignorant and stupid and vile - because for some reason normative people refuse to accept the banality of evil seeping from a very small group of sycophants who cannot see their own inner ugliness due to their misplaced pride.

I can only wonder in shock why someone would call attention to their last name and/or family members and think this is good enough and important enough to allow acceptance of their view in life and their attitude. Why would we care what family you married or were born into? Why would we care who you are or your brother-in-law is? And why do find yourself so incredibly important when there is nothing left to you or all that you think but name-calling and horrendous hate?

I have seen deliberate lies; deliberate misconstruing of statements; and time after time lie is compounded by lie - all from the same group of people calling as their witness one supposed "teen" and using no less and no more than two starved-for-attention children to prove their cause. It is no longer innocent. It is no longer just "ego" talking. It is insidious seeds of little black evil which creeps from the heart of some people.

Why though, after the points were made, and I think they were, why should I keep on making sure that every little detail is out there? As many commentators said, "there is no need or reason to defend yourself."

I am not defending myself. I need no defense in front of anyone who would allow such things to take place. I am making sure that someone speaks up against this warping of the truth. I am making sure that there is no silence which can be read as an equivalent to agreement. I am damn sure not going to let some self-announced bullies who have nothing to do with themselves but announce their own self-importance, and allow children to become their witness, to utter lie following lie without making sure it is known and understood.

I too have followed some of the links. I too have looked at this "poor teen's" blog. For as quoted in the post, Never Again, the person who used this symbol, the poor attention-starved child - "Teddy refers to a member, one of our teens". Thus I assumed he is/was truly a "teen". I went to his blog. It is incredibly easy to find. I am a bit confused now. This attention craver who is so full of love for mankind has been called a "teen". Yet from his very own blog, he links to a story he wrote, which is up on a blog devoted to erotica. (If you click here you will see a picture of the post page - just in case magically the blog post or entire blog is deleted!) Following that link one sees clearly that on the blog there is a clear message that those under 18 should skedaddle away. Go Away. It is even protected by an Adults against Pornography for Children label. So now I have to ask in public. Is this a "teen" we are dealing with, who is just craving for attention and found a cabal to stick up for him by calling everyone names - and if so what is a story signed by this teen doing on an erotic blog (with pictures and all the rest) that clearly states "No One Under 18 Is Allowed"? Or is this an adult and if so why are you posing him as a teen? What is the message here? What is truth? What is lie? Who is using whom here? And for what purpose?

How many lies have been told to further a notion of right? When you are right you need not lie; when you are correct the truth stands for you. The moment you lie, the moment you tell something totally untrue - it places your entire argument in question. And the lies here. One after the other. Spewing forth. As I said it is done with practice and forethought. It is the "Doctrine of the Lie".

Then of course come the threats. One threat was made about the owner of the blog recording IP addresses. We quake in our boots. Oh my! Oh Golly Gee! She records IP addresses. Would you look at that! This is a threat? If you have nothing to worry about then this is not a threat.

So, I say - on that blog - Go ahead publish the IP table. I want to see that IP table and I want to see my IP number show up next to an anonymous comment. I really want to see it. Go ahead. And suddenly it is impossible to publish the IP table. Glitch in the system. Surprise! Surprise! If you are going to threaten make sure at least you have something to threaten with.

And these my dear people, are the defenders of a symbol of peace and love and harmony. They curse, vilify, attack, and lie - anything and everything to further a supposed cause. They even use children, by their own admission, to continue to keep that cause going. For be well aware that two people who have posted generously in foul-mouth land are children, at least according to what they say. But then again who knows anymore?

The only word that can describe it is - sick.

I must call the attention of the readers to two very different comments left at Cobwebs Of The Mind by two very different people. One I know "virtually" and the other, Renee whose comment is the first below I have never met, do not know who she is, do not know which friend of hers told her to look at the blog - nothing about her except her name is Renee. Below is the comment she left in lieu of the last three posts, (it is also posted in the comments section.)

Perhaps we are all ignorant and vile and all the other names we are called. Perhaps we just refuse to let the past go. Perhaps we are just morally inept for not forgiving and forgetting.

Or maybe, just maybe, perhaps, the whole thread in foul-mouth land is just indicative of what happens when we do stay silent. When the banality of evil is allowed to flourish without someone saying - this is just not right.

I received a call from a friend asking if she could impose upon me for my opinion on something that would most likely upset me.

I know this gal very well and felt it must be important if she felt the need to ask me.

I have read all that is posted here and on the site you linked to.

I could not react right away. I took a day and thought about it. I am now ready to share with you my thoughts.

My name is Renee.

When I was 3 years old, my family which consisted of mother, father, three brothers ages 7 , 10, and 14 a baby sister and myself, were captured by the Nazis.

I remember the day as if it were yesterday. You see, that was the last time I saw my family.

I was the only one to make it out.

I will spare you the details.
The question posed is of a symbol.

On the site called Live Journal, which you link, there is a picture of the symbol in question. Upon seeing it, the first thing that comes to mind is the swastika. I notice that those who are not familiar with the details automatically see it as a swastika. In the end that is what matters.

I am forced each day to look at a symbol. Not by choice mind you, it is a symbol etched into my skin as a daily reminder of all the horror and evil endured by millions.

I took the time to read everything on this posting as well as all the comments on Live Journal so that I could with a clear conscience responds.

In your attempt to explain that it is a sign of peace you show much hatred in your response which leads me to believe the intention of the display was to cause suffering. If you had firmly believed in what you were saying to the people questioning the use, you would not have to do so in a manner of belittling those who posed serious question.

I dislike the way you went about it. You showed ignorance in your attack. Hate breeds evil. Evil is dangerous.

I saw things said such as bashing a religion. That was not done in any of the comments made by those questioning the use of this symbol.

I do not know any of you. I am not affiliated with either side of this debate. I am a survivor.

Upon looking at the link to the person who used this symbol, I note a topic called Testing, Testing.

Here the person asks “What do you see?”

I see a person hiding behind his intentions. If he wanted to show his pride in his faith, this would not be the way in which to do it.

One of the people on Live Journal offered to list names, numbers and grave sites of some of the lives lost at the hands of the Nazis.

This was in poor taste. You see, I can lead you to those as well. It has nothing to do with the original offense.

At no time did anyone question your morals,your history or your knowledge. Yet you felt it your duty to call those in disagreement with you ignorant. By hurling insults and curses at people you make it clear that you do not understand the severity of all that is said.

When people make light of something such as this, they allow the opportunity for hate to continue.

You wouldn’t dare call me ignorant
I am much to close to this.

You can go on telling yourselves that it is a harmless symbol. I call it denial.

You’re not alone. There are many who deny this ever took place. You have that privilege. I close my eyes at night and can still hear the screaming,and I can still smell the burning of flesh.

I dare you to call me ignorant!

Now to my friend. You asked me for my opinion. Here you have it.
If we do nothing, we allow it to continue. I refuse to turn away.

Never Again!

And to the host of this site.
Yasher koach

Renee

The second comment was left by a "virtual" friend, Zentao. He runs The Deepening. And you can see from his name that there is an affinity of Zen and Taoism in this person. It is why I wrote him and asked him about the use of the symbol - inverted, upside down and all the rest. He is usually short on words but this time he was very, very clear. And the comment he made, I just realized is in full up The Deepening Blog. Either read in the comments section to Depravity, Disgust and Stupidity - Passing Ignorance Around Like A Venereal Disease - or better yet go here to The Deepening Blog and read it. Perhaps it will help to understand just how people see this.

Truly, I thank all those who left comments. And I thank you more so, because each one of you left your names on the comments. It is something to be proud of knowing that in this world, despite all differences, there is still much good and courage and honesty out there.

The holiday of Purim in two days will be celebrated by Jews around the world. The typical greeting of this holiday, after we read the story of the Book of Esther in the Old Testament, is as follows (taken from a verse at the end of the book):

"And the Jews [of that day] had great light, happiness, joy and honor. May it be so in our day as well."

And this I wish to all of you - no matter what race, religion, creed or symbol you follow, were born in to or believe in. May we all have days of great light, happiness, joy and honor - and may the darkness of evil and all its hated symbols be finally and completely obliterated from our world and from all hearts.

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Posts In This Series:

1. Depravity, Disgust and Stupidity - Passing Ignorance Around Like A Venereal Disease.
2. Never Again
3. Doctrine Of The Lie
4. The Banality Of Evil
5. On The Bastardization Of Language
6. Who Let The Dogs Out?
7. The Day Hitler Became A "Funky Dude"
   

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Posted On: Cobwebs Of The Mind

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