Brad Wardell's views about technology, politics, religion, world affairs, and all sorts of politically incorrect topics.

Recently I was involved in a discussion regarding the two Boston Marathon bombers.  It started off with someone expressing concern about the amount of anger and hatred being directed towards the bombers.

I am dismayed and afraid about the amount of hate and vengeance for the two who planted the bombs. It is spreading the attitude of vengeance in our country. I saw a quote from Ghandi this morning which I have not verified, but it struck me as true. "An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind". What is the difference between those two and us wanting to kill them?

This comment launched a discussion that had one side advocating that we should try to understand – show “empathy” towards how people could become so “disenfranchised” that they would commit such violent acts?  They also argued that it was unhealthy for us, as a society, to feel so much anger, hate and a desire for vengeance against the perpetrators.

I disagree.

We have the ability to indulge ourselves in this discussion precisely because we live in a civilization that instinctively and actively removes the monsters from society. We should be thankful that the instinctive emotion by our society is anger, disdain and hate towards these monsters and not empathy or compassion.

A civilization that frets too much on whether it's acceptable to dehumanize monsters has little expectation to survive in the long-run. It only took two monsters to shut down Boston. And I think we all know that there are many many edge cases out there that could become such monsters.  Our civilization could be severely disrupted by a handful of individuals like the Boston Marathon bombers.  We should show no tolerance whatsoever for individuals that act in this way.

Therefore, as a society that seeks to survive, we should absolutely show the maximum amount of disdain, disgust and contempt for human beings to engage in such behavior. We should absolutely make it clear that people who engage in this act are so loathed that we no longer even think of them as human but rather as animals, vermin, and monsters. We so reject their actions that we figuratively have kicked them out of our species.

I think it's intellectually facile to argue that it's somehow "wrong" to dehumanize human beings like this. At best, it's the result of not thinking through the consequences of what would happen if a significant plurality of our society showed an ounce of compassion or empathy towards these kinds of monsters. And at worst, it's simply indulging in feel-good sanctimonious back patting (i.e. "Look at me, I'm an intellectual because I imagine that intellectuals are above feeling 'negative' human emotions).

If we want to keep our society, we better hope that people continue to think of human beings that would seek to destroy them as monsters, vermin, animals and worse.  “What is evil?” someone asked. Pointlessly and indiscriminately murdering innocents who were there to support loved ones participating in an event that celebrated excellence. That’s evil.

Just my 2 cents.


Comments (Page 9)
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on Apr 25, 2013

TwoWolves
Specifically President Putin asked the US administration to stop supplying the terrorists with arms.

Unfortunately, our government hasn't learn from these past mistakes. Bin Laden, Fidel Castro, Manuel Noriega, Shah of Iran.

Those who don't heed the past are doomed to repeat it in the future...

on Apr 25, 2013

The problem is that these guys were convicted before ever seeing the inside of a court. Which suddenly happens a lot in the US(Guantanmo bay and the patriot act). I myself do have doubt that they are the ones who did it. There is a good chance that these people were set up. I don't trust the American government or military AT ALL. These people are so corrupt and dangerous that I have no doubt in my mind that they are capable of committing false flag attacks. They have been doing that many times, but still people always seem to have the idea that the government would NEVER do something like that.

There is so much fishy stuff going on with this. Mercenary contractors being there before the bomb goes off. Both brothers seems to have been captured alive and then suddenly get killed and wounded. Illegal searches of homes by military and police which looks like marshal law being tested on the american people. THAT IS NOT NORMAL. The government should be asked tough questions regarding this.

This bombing will be just another excuse to take away more freedom from the american people even though a thousand times more people die from gun related crime than from terrorism.

I just hope the American people wakes up soon, before they loose total control of their country too defence contractors(if it isn't already too late), which makes billions and billions of dollars every time there is a terror attack. 

on Apr 25, 2013

While I agree with you in general terms*, I can't fault the handling of this particular case. Police shot Suspect 1 in self-defense after one of their officers was shot, then pursued and arrested Suspect 2 (also armed and dangerous) after he resisted arrest. He is currently (as of yesterday) nearly incapable of speach due to an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the neck, and while in the hospital has been informed of his rights and provided with legal counsel. When he gets out, he will be tried in a civilian court like any other criminal.

 

*sort of, in that there's a problem. But "contractors being there before the bomb goes off"? "Martial law"? The British have a wonderful expression for situations like this- "Cockup before conspiracy".

on Apr 25, 2013

Draginol
Understood. I was trying to prevent my post from being hijacked by people wanting to turn it into a referendum on Islam.

That wasn't going to happen....nudge nudge wink ...

on Apr 25, 2013

Koalab
There is so much fishy stuff going on with this.

No...no...no....the fishy stuff is all housed in Area 51.....

on Apr 25, 2013

TwoWolves




Specifically President Putin asked the US administration to stop supplying the terrorists with arms.

 

Fuck I hope we have learned to not supply terrorist, rebels, or freedom fighters with arms.  It's pretty much bit us in the ass later every time. Very dangerous tactic.

on Apr 25, 2013

Of course they were set up, the act of shooting police and throwing bombs at them is perfectly normal behaviour for innocent people...

 

I wish someone would shoot all these conspiracy theorists too

on Apr 25, 2013

Fuzzy Logic

Of course they were set up, the act of shooting police and throwing bombs at them is perfectly normal behaviour for innocent people...

 

I wish someone would shoot all these conspiracy theorists too

Couldn't agree more.

on Apr 25, 2013

There are now reports out that Djokar was not in possession of a gun in the boat.  Not sure how an 'exchange' of gunfire occurred as reported if that turns out to be true.

on Apr 25, 2013


There are now reports out that Djokar was not in possession of a gun in the boat.  Not sure how an 'exchange' of gunfire occurred as reported if that turns out to be true.

Looking at this thread you can't figure that one out?

on Apr 25, 2013

Guess I shoulda used the sarc tag.  My bad.

on Apr 25, 2013

Koalab
This bombing will be just another excuse to take away more freedom from the american people even though a thousand times more people die from gun related crime than from terrorism.

Actually, odds are better you will die from bee stings then by terrorists

 TERRORIST

If you eat honey, you support TERRORISM

on Apr 25, 2013

And with guns, you are more likely to die from shooting yourself than being shot by someone else.  

on Apr 25, 2013

I had a book full of death statistics and stories like that... unfortunately, it's at home and I'm at college. [e digicons]:'([/e]

on Apr 25, 2013

Lord Xia
And with guns, you are more likely to die from shooting yourself than being shot by someone else.

Only if you're an idiot while you handle them.

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