Ingrid Betancourt and the human stain

Ingrid Betancourt, Darfur, 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan, not to mention the evil being done right under our noses- in our cities, among our neighbors and inside our homes...

I think the contemporary Christian music channel needs to feature more LAMENT.

Kyrie eleison,

Tim

"I discussed what it would be like to be in a society that had been traumatized by war (9-11, mortgage crisis, Oil prices), and what if a charismatic leader (Obama) came along that told you that all your problems were somebody else's fault (Bush's), and that you could be strong and powerful again if only you did what he told you? And what if everybody around you agreed with him (any big city in US)? How do you think you would hold out in that situation?

We'll see.

"I discussed what it would be like to be in a society that had been traumatized by war, and what if a charismatic leader came along that told you that all your problems were somebody else's fault, and that you could be strong and powerful again if only you did what he told you? And what if everybody around you agreed with him?"

gee sounds like you are describing a certain Presidential candidate.

The Hitler video is instructive. My brother and I were talking about history the other day, and we both wondered if the US is currently is in a stage like the late Roman Republic. Basically, we were both wondering if Obama is going to turn our Presidential election system from a more rule based process to a more populism driven process - that if you can get enough people to back you, it won't matter if what you want to do is against the rules. This is how the Roman Republic got worn away, bit by bit, until it became the Roman Empire, ruled by Julius Caesar. Obama is no Caesar. However, he may be the man who opens the door for a Caesar, or worse, a Hitler, to come (not his fault, but something that could result from his campaign if it ends a certain way).

"I discussed what it would be like to be in a society that had been traumatized by war (9-11, mortgage crisis, Oil prices), and what if a charismatic leader (Any Republican candidate) came along that told you that all your problems were somebody else's fault (Liberals), and that you could be strong and powerful again if only you did what he told you? And what if everybody around you agreed with him (anyone watching Fox or listening to talk radio)? How do you think you would hold out in that situation?

We are already seeing. Going great isn't it?

Steve

I wish this hadn't devolved so quickly into partisan politics. Could we back up a notch, please?

This goes beyond politics. The darkness does lie within each of us. Many soldiers could tell you this.

Each of us is potentially a monster. Our makeup is no different than that of the Nazi Youths, or their Gestapo elders. We are constitutionally no different from African rebel fighters who control villagers by raping and maiming them. We have the same DNA, marking us as Homo Sapiens, as do suicide bombers. Let's not blame drugs or fanaticism or war or trauma or religion or politics. Sure these things can be catalysts, but they do not absolve anyone of blame.

God forbid any of us should ever come under such harsh circumstances. For the only thing standing between us and darkness then will be difficult choices, which may cost us our lives. Or, a sobering thought, the lives of our loved ones. How many of us would be strong enough to resist?