If our days are filled with constant reminders of the evil nature of this group or that and we are under continual threat because of their existence, how likely is it that we will be able to summon the courage to think differently about them, let alone reach out the hand of friendship?
The words good and evil have been devalued by both their constant usage and their employ by people whose authority is suspect. The only reason for calling a person like George Bush or a country like Iran evil is to make them feared and to let others know they shouldn't like them. Just because someone or some country does something we don't agree with does not make them evil, yet that is exactly how the word is utilized today.
Good and evil are highly subjective terms anyway; there are very few things that people are in universal agreement on when defining what is and isn't evil. Even within their own moral codes, societies can have double standards on what constitutes evil dependant on who performs the act.
It's all right for the state to order the death of an individual, but it’s not all right for an individual to assist another in taking their own life or even to let that person expire in peace. In some people's minds, it's acceptable to condemn a birthing mother to death, but not abort a foetus. Other people will abort a foetus for no other reason than its potential gender. All sides of the issues think they are morally right and the other morally wrong.
Needless to say, everybody thinks they are right and the other person is wrong. When everything becomes black and white, greys cease to exist. The chance of any compromise being reached between two parties is minimal. Very few of us are willing to "walk a mile in another's shoes" anymore or to try and understand another person's viewpoint.
Until we are able to do that, nothing is going to change, and this war of utilizing words for fear will continue.
Article comments
1 - gonzo marx
excellent Post...
/golfclap
once again, thanks much for sharing your timely Thoughts in such an interesting Read
would that more folks Heard such Truth
Excelsior?
2 - Richard Marcus
Sorry /golfclap? explain.
thanks
3 - gonzo marx
ooops..ok Richard...
unix slash commands...old school text based net joke
golfclap from a bad old movie....sardonic expression of much approval
meaning...i liked the read
hope that helps
Excelsior?
4 - Baronius
With all due respect to Faulkner, do you really believe that fear of nuclear war has affected us? People live longer and healthier than ever. We make long-term investments, such as savings bonds and education. We don't act fearful. Afraid of aging, yes, because more of us get there, but not afraid of sudden death. Am I off the mark on this one?