Denial of Evil

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Sunday, December 16. 2012

I am pleased that we posted on Father Rohr this morning. I have no interest in posting on the topic of dramatic mass murders on this site, because I have already said all I have to say about it already on previous postings.

Dramatic or undramatic, evil is pervasive. There is not a single human heart without some. We read about guns, mental illness, government policy, a bad culture, inattentive parents and others, etc. These are all distractions. The relevant topic is human evil in all of its forms. We do not like to think about that.

Believe it or not, I saw a headline saying "Gun kills 26 in Connecticut."

A planet without humans would be a planet without good and evil. The utopian narrative goes something like this: "If everybody is properly served, controlled, treated, drugged, provided for, etc etc, horrible things might be eliminated from the world." That thought is truly crazy and is the reason we have trademarked the term "psycho-utopianism" on this website.

Posted by Dr. Joy Bliss in Our Essays, Psychology, and Dr. Bliss at 09:18 | Comments (18) | Trackbacks (0)

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Everything balances in nature, the world, the universe, and life. Evil must be balanced by good, and vice versa. Unfortunately there cannot be one without the other.

#1 Alex G on 2012-12-16 09:31 (Reply)

Call me crazy but I think a gun control law could have prevented this tragedy.

A law that mandated that in any school or college at least two adults, therein, be carrying firearms (that they were licensed and trained for) during all business hours.
After all, here and around the world we have tried to respond to random acts of violence with gun prohibition and its only gotten worse. Even in nations with near total bans on private gun ownership still experience these and other personal encounters with gun (and knife and club, etc) violence. Only an insane person would expect different results from trying that again.
In nations, as in Japan, with strong families and social cohesiveness are largely free or this. Which can be observed in the Japanese communities in the USA, which are exposed to the same access to firearms.

#2 John the River (Link) on 2012-12-16 10:59 (Reply)

"In nations, as in Japan, with strong families and social cohesiveness are largely free or this. Which can be observed in the Japanese communities in the USA, which are exposed to the same access to firearms."

Sorry, to nitpick; but, this is not entirely true. Japan had a school massacre back in 2001. Also it was in Japan that they had the sarin gas attack in the Tokyo subway in 1995.

Or do you mean "largely free of this" because it only happens every 6 years or so?

I do agree that such "strong family ties" might prevent this somewhat; but, those same strong family ties and social cohesiveness are too strong for most Americans - They have a saying in East Asia - the nail that sticks up gets hammered down (in reference to floorboards). Most Americans would not tolerate being hammered down.

#2.1 Charles on 2012-12-16 15:30 (Reply)

Nothing for the last 11 years? But, Largely Free is good.

I'm thinking more of the cohesive and vibrant society we enjoyed when I was growing up, prior to "diversity" and "multicultural".

#2.1.1 John the River (Link) on 2012-12-17 01:04 (Reply)

I had a friend whose blog tagline was 'An armed society is a polite society.' It's certainly true out where we live.

#3 weaver (Link) on 2012-12-16 11:05 (Reply)

Daniel Greenfield"s line in his article sums it up.

"Guns are how we misspell evil"

http://sultanknish.blogspot.ca/2012/12/guns-guns-guns.html#comment-form

#4 Joel on 2012-12-16 11:34 (Reply)

"Believe it or not, I saw a headline saying 'Gun kills 26 in Connecticut.'"

I saw a headline this morning that had the words "semi-automatic assault rifle" in it, which, to the uninitiated, likens it to those dreadful weapons of war that soldiers use -- and have no place in polite society.

Of course, "semi-automatic" merely means "fires every time you pull the trigger', like pretty much every pistol made in the last century. So, put a longer barrel on a pistol and, to the MSM, it's suddenly a semi-automatic assault rifle.

And I liked John's comment up above. A couple of times now I've commented in one of these "Our Gun Laws Need To Be Changed NOW!" articles with something like:

"Boy, I'll say! Imagine how many fewer children would have been lost if only our present gun laws didn't keep teachers from protecting themselves and the students! As the headline states, these antiquated laws need to be changed, and changed NOW before more innocent lives are lost!"

We all do what we can.

#5 Dr. Mercury (Link) on 2012-12-16 12:03 (Reply)

Days like this is when the trip to the local pub or store get interesting, first I slap on my NRA cap...

Last time around, a woman was so mad at me (I hadn't said a word, yet) she was spitting while yelling at me.

I've got to move out of the Northeast.

#5.1 John the River (Link) on 2012-12-16 12:38 (Reply)

The principal according to reports confronted the shooter and was herself shot. She along with the teachers there, had recently completed training intended to mitigate the damage someone could do in a situation like this. Did it work? What if instead she had been trained in shooting a Glock and required to carry one all the time she is in school in a fanny pack? If instead of "confronting" an armed man carrying guns she had shot him. Would this be better training? In my son's high school they have what is euphemistically referred to as a "resource officer" and he carries a glock in a fanny pack. Now, he is a sworn police officer but is he any more trustworthy then a principal? Simple common sense tells us that if we can train a principal to "confront" a shooter with nothing more then her personality then we could be more effective if we trained them to shoot and carry a gun!!!

#6 GoneWithTheWind on 2012-12-16 12:32 (Reply)

http://anarchistsoccermom.blogspot.ca/2012/12/thinking-unthinkable.html?m=1

A few weeks ago, Michael pulled a knife and threatened to kill me and then himself after I asked him to return his overdue library books. His 7 and 9 year old siblings knew the safety plan—they ran to the car and locked the doors before I even asked them to. I managed to get the knife from Michael, then methodically collected all the sharp objects in the house into a single Tupperware container that now travels with me. Through it all, he continued to scream insults at me and threaten to kill or hurt me.
...

I am sharing this story because I am Adam Lanza’s mother. I am Dylan Klebold’s and Eric Harris’s mother. I am Jason Holmes’s mother. I am Jared Loughner’s mother. I am Seung-Hui Cho’s mother. And these boys—and their mothers—need help. In the wake of another horrific national tragedy, it’s easy to talk about guns. But it’s time to talk about mental illness.

#7 Joel on 2012-12-16 12:38 (Reply)

You might have indicated that this was an excerpt of a long article, not personal. But thanks for the link, that article was very worth reading.

For me the money quote from that article is this," In the wake of another horrific national tragedy, it’s easy to talk about guns. But it’s time to talk about mental illness."
Her son is thirteen and she is still stronger than he is, barely. She could still wrestle the knife away, still force him to go to the hospital. But the only help society could give her is to suggest she charge her son with a crime and get him locked up. That's true, we have closed the mental hospitals and State Homes. That was a liberal "reform" if memory serves. Now, we put them in prison.

I feel sorry for her, but when her son is sixteen and back out on the streets, I want the option of getting a gun to protect myself from him and all the other beneficiaries of the progressives merciful intercession. Otherwise known as community health act of 1963.
Quote from Wikipedia:
Community Mental Health Act

The Community Mental Health Act of 1963 (CMHA)...was an act to provide federal funding for community mental health centers in the United States. This legislation was passed as part of John F. Kennedy's New Frontier. It led to considerable deinstitutionalization....

The CMHA provided grants to states for the establishment of local mental health centers, under the overview of the National Institute of Mental Health. The NIH also conducted a study involving adequacy in mental health issues. The purpose of the CMHA was to provide for community-based care, as an alternative to institutionalization. However, some states saw this as an excuse to close expensive state hospitals without spending some of the money on community-based care.

The CMHA proved to be a mixed success. Many patients, formerly warehoused in institutions, were released into the community. However, not all communities had the facilities or expertise to deal with them. In many cases, patients wound up in adult homes or with their families, or homeless in large cities, but without the mental health care they needed.

#7.1 John the River (Link) on 2012-12-16 13:11 (Reply)

One news article interviewed teachers, classmates, neighbors etc and most could barely remember this kid shooter. He has been described as a "loner". He had no significant adults in his life and no solid friendships. Nobody cared for or about him. I think that when the final relationship thread breaks the loner seeks revenge, not fame, in shooting everybody. It takes a special adult that can love the unloveable kid that makes the difference in a loners life. Alex has it right -- Good must balance the evil. Adults have to take a special interest in the kids around them especially the quiet ones. Making kids feel significant, included and appreciated for themselves will head off the loners before they become dangerous loners. Just my thought, Blick

#8 Blick on 2012-12-16 13:09 (Reply)

only two wounded. think about why that is so before having someone explain.

more reasons why a timely and armed response is critical.

#9 wirraway on 2012-12-16 13:13 (Reply)

Reviled did I live, said I, as evil I did deliver

That's a palindrome.

#10 rhhardin (Link) on 2012-12-16 16:58 (Reply)

Our new Catholic Bishop (Pensacola-Tallahassee Diocese) offered Mass today. As part of his homily, he mentioned his conflict between the joy of today, the 3rd Week of Advent, Gaudet Sunday, a day of joy over the anticipation of Christ's coming, and the horrific events of Friday. He said it's tough to understand, but it boils down to free will. (His comments don't address any possible issues of mental illness, but they speak to (but simply cannot explain fully to our satisfaction) the larger issue of why and how evil happens.) In short, we have free will and with that free will the choice to do good or evil. Most choose the former, but if God were to prevent evil from occurring, he would also eliminate the opportunity for us to do good. And, Bishop Parks mentioned, God incarnate suffered greatly--He fully understands, and is with us, in our pain and suffering. He is truly with us these tragic days. Our best recourse is prayer for the victims, their families, and all those affected--which includes all of us.

#11 Mark on 2012-12-16 18:08 (Reply)

Another good article on the subject

"On Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs"

http://www.killology.com/sheep_dog.htm

#12 Joel on 2012-12-16 21:36 (Reply)

that was the most patronizing article I've read in months.

#12.1 wirraway on 2012-12-17 01:22 (Reply)

Patronizing?

I though it was so spot on I sent it to my Marine buddy.
As he stated, the writer is not denigrating the bulk of the citizenry by comparing them to sheep. Sheep in this regard are the productive, socialized and "normal" members of society. Only driven to violence by extreme fear or peril.
It's the wolves and the sheepdogs that are on the edge, and pay the price. And pay the price, and pay the heavy price. Both the wolf and sheepdog.

#12.1.1 John the River (Link) on 2012-12-17 16:55 (Reply)

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Sunday, December 16. 2012

Denial of Evil