Firstly, define "evil"
Many of us would point fingers at Hitler and the Fascism but we forget the fact that this is what literally saved Germany at first and gave to the world a myriad of phenomenal things. Had Hitler held back and not invaded Poland, etc. chances are quite strong that he'd gone down in history as a hero and iconic political leader but, he allowed his subordinates influence him far too much along side a growing addiction to opiates and voila! A hell broke loose and what was "good" became "bad"
But those poor Jews! scream the folks in the pacifists gallery
Remember, a couple of notable Americans were awarded major kudos by Hitler himself because of their views towards Jews and minorities (non-whites). Too, in the 30's and early 40s much of America as well as Britain were far more conservative and "whites only' in their focus; the KKK hold major influence in this country and the NAZI Party, a growing level of representation because it seemed to be working "over there" so why not put it to work here to help our still floundering economy?
To Christianized (fundamentalist) America, the people of Islam are evil and yet, to the aspects of the Islamic world we are the "great Satan"... who's right?
If it weren't for the Moors and early Islam most of we Western European types would still be ignorant and know nothing of actual science let alone progress and community. Then again, if it weren't for the greed-driven politics of old, the world would not have become explored and new trade cultivated... that same greed however brought about extreme instances of enslavement, genocide, unabashed theft and the destruction of numerous cultures... a lust drive that pandered to the appetite of the "business community" as well as the ruling monarchs/politicians and of course religion... that false idealism that's brought both, hope as well as despair to the world time and again.
So, which is good and which is bad? Robin Hood was viewed as a good and great hero by the people he gave charity to and yet, the politicians & Nobels of the land saw him as a threat to their power and influence; an outlaw on one hand, a savior on the other. The founding fathers of this country are national heroes and yet, the British Crown viewed them as traitors and terrorists...
Yes, there is evil in the world and yes, there are those scenarios in which is seems evil triumphs over good, such as how big business abuses "the people". But the reverse of this is how "the people" continue to patronize big business in order to enjoy the benefits it provides; oil & byproducts for our cars, technology & gadget growth, peace of mind when medical issues arise... we seem willing to support the trade-off and get in bed with the devil, so who are we to say "they" are "evil"... its a very arrogant way of looking at things when you step back and consider the greater truth.
Yes, certain groups seem to be far more brutal and less humane than others but that does not mean they are "evil' just different. Once we learn how to understand and live with each other, we begin creating balance; but the core of the truth is, we can't have life without "death", we can't know what Light is, without Darkness and we can't define who we are and what we are until we learn to view either side of any given issue or trait objectively.
Many people in this nation view me as being "evil" and "godless" because I'm openly gay and live a rather Gnostic/Druidic view when it comes to spirituality which is based on 25+ years of involvement with Paganism, New Age thinking and of course, working as a "Psychic"... even outside the fundamentalist Christian arena, I've seen as being "evil & wrong' because of that last label there; after all, all psychics are crooks, thieves, liars and con-men, right? Yet, my patrons view me in an entirely different light just as I view what I do in that role, as being fair, honest and an obligation... being my brother's keeper, so to speak.
I've offered more than enough examples here and yet, the essence to it all can be summed up in a single word: PERSPECTIVEStatistics: Posted by Craig Browning — 29 Sep 2010, 23:29
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