Outrage

What is this world coming to? When we speak of progress, are we really just trying to make ourselves feel better about the state of things? Are we just distracting ourselves with a new shiny bit of technology? Put a stamp on it and pat ourselves on the head? Yes… good little monkey, here’s a cookie.

Can we really call ourselves progressive when we cannot seem to get past our differences? Can we expect to move forward when we so readily resort to vile and violent acts towards one another?

I am mostly pissed off about these reports of such acts by groups and organizations that think it is perfectly alright to kill, behead, mutilate another person and broadcast it. Only small-minded cowards would resort to such tactics. This can also apply to those who succumb to the mob mentality and rove around in a small group and assault and beat up (or worse) those who are different. Yeah, real tough… five on one. Pathetic really.

In order to deal with these people, is violence the answer? Perhaps in many cases, yes. If all other avenues had been exhausted? Yes. But, should we, as a people, allow ourselves to be influenced and behave similarly, thereby creating a cycle of violence? No…

Does this view make me a pacifist? No, it does not… I just cannot condone senseless violence.

It bothers me when I see humanity begin to take real steps forward towards progress, and becoming more forward-thinking, only to take two or three steps back. I think a part of it is a matter of conditioning. Whether it is beliefs (or lack thereof), sexuality, appearances… humanity tends to treat each other rather poorly. Whether physically or psychological… we lash out at those who dare to defy our paradigms, those who dare to differ from us.