a rather gruesomely reassuring thought

[seldear]

That US marine who shot the unarmed Iraqi prisoner? Totally comforting.

He has reaffirmed my underlying belief that whether you're black, white, or rainbow-coloured with sparkles, Muslim, Christian, Jewish or Atheist, poor or rich, bald or Rapunzel, gay, straight, crooked or kinky, American, Canadian, British, Chinese, Indian, Iraqi, Lebanese, Australian, George Dubya Bush, Jesus Christ, Mohammed, or Osama Bin Laden, there is one thing that does not change in humanity.

We're not better than 'the other guy' - we're just kidding ourselves. Give us the upper hand, and we'll gladly put the boot (or bullet) in - and our better nature, political affiliation, or moral stance can be damned.

Okay, so maybe not Jesus Christ. But for everyone else I mentioned, the statement still stands.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the human race. No absconding permitted.

Comments

[whiteroselover.livejournal.com]

Sel, perhaps your unhappiness with your current situation is affecting your overall take on humanity, but...there really are good people out there. Truly. Honestly. People who have no use for guns. People whose only reason for lifting a hand is to extend it in help. People who really will turn the other cheek.

Don't let the worst of humanity curdle your belief in the best of it. If every one of us would put the boot (or bullet) in, given the upper hand, then there is no such thing as 'humanity'. We'd just be cleverer animals than most. And if that's the case, why would God have bothered to send His only Son to offer us Redemption?

[lytarules.livejournal.com]

I agree. Good people exist, and so do bad, and there are many people who waffle in between, but want to be good, and who will be if they are given the chance.

But really, Sel, good people are out there.

[suds-from-aus.livejournal.com]

I agree.

So thank God for the good things humanity can and does do in spite of this, or else I'd say all to bugger it all to hell and take my leave of this place. And thank God for grace.

[aunty-pasta.livejournal.com]

welcome to my sand box :)