The leftier parts of the news-blogosphere complex have been drippping with memes and one of 'em is, "Look, there those white folks go again, a white man commits an act of terrorism and they call him 'crazy' instead."
It is, of course, inflammatory, and not at all in line with general trend of public reaction in Charleston; but it's also at least partially accurate, just misinterpreted: it's a distancing thing. Guy looks like my son or brother, goes and does something like that? Nobody I know would do that -- unless they were crazy. And so people who look like the killer say, "He must be crazy." It's not an excuse. They're trying to say, "I'm repelled by his actions. I'm not like that."
Crazy? You don't have to be sane to be a terrorist. Conversely, while the kind of horribly cold calculation involved in sitting through a Bible Study class in order to commit multiple murders certainly seems insane, the twisted little weasel who did so may or may not meet legal or medical definitions of "insanity." It does not reduce the outrageousness of his actions.
It was an act of terror. --A particularly ineffective one. And we can take the wind right of the sails of any would-be cheerleaders or copycats by ensuring it does not provoke greater polarization or violent reaction, because a big, divisive reaction is what terrorists want: terrorism attempts to leverage public opinion and official reaction as a force multiplier.
Don't let any fast-talker divide you from your fellow, peaceable humans. Yeah, there's still a lot wrong with the way people treat one another; read history and you'll see we really are doing better now than we have in the past. We haven't built Utopia yet and we're unlikely to, but civil amity is not losing ground, despite the noise-level in social media, despite the jaywalkers who swear at you in your car, despite the pushy drivers who won't let you cross the street. Hateful bastards may always be among us, but they get less and less traction over time.
We call em Crazy because the alternative is Evil. And people, myself included, are uncomfortable recognizing Evil exists like that, so we are in denial about it.
ReplyDeleteCrazy and evil is still an option. --And too many people are.
ReplyDeleteDespite the terrible subject matter involved, that was one of the most logical and positive things I've heard about this mess. Thanks for writing it. Do you mind if I share this on Facebook? With proper credit given to the author of course.
ReplyDeleteInsane people live in a strange world. Sometimes they think they are being tormented by Satan. Sometimes they think they are Gods. Whatever, this dude was insane. Evil people shoot 7-11` clerks in the face for 50 bucks...they know what they are doing...it's transactional. This dude was totally insane.
ReplyDeleteYup. As I told a woman while still employed by the State when she demanded to know "What are the qualifications for your position?!" Sat back, thought a sec, and said "Well, you don't HAVE to be nuts, but it helps!"
ReplyDeleteEducated Savage: I kind of wish you would not post this to Facebook. Social media is a very broad and very shallow pool and any posted opinion quickly gather opposing ones. They'd track back to here and next thing you know, I'd be having to fend off nitwits from comments again.
ReplyDeleteNo problem:)
ReplyDeleteNJT,
ReplyDeleteThe country for most of my life has had trouble calling evil by its true name, to our detriment. But that's what it is, evil. If you accept there is good, then there also has to be evil, I think