A really well-argued case for not giving our attention exclusively to the 'Big Bads'. You cite academics who use the term "banal acquiescence" which is a great phrase and, of course, makes us think of Hannah Arendt's idea 'banality of evil'. People have different reasons for just going along with the status quo or accepting evil, as Arendt told us. Sometimes it is pure cynicism, which this piece in the Atlantic reminds us: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/11/mitt-romney-retiring-senate-trump-mcconnell/675306/ The cynics and the self-servers are a danger too.
Really great writing. You used a lot of the same words I would use to describe my thoughts on the “news” during IQ45’s presidency. To some degree we are all complicit, and some days it feels like we have to fight ALL THE SYSTEMS ALL THE TIME. It does feel hopeless some days. I struggle with everything associated with our criminal justice system, given its corporate nature and the pipeline of brown and black male bodies being funneled in to places like Angola while white collar guys go to camps. I want some people to suffer and then immediately feel bad for wanting that. I don’t believe in divine retribution, but I do believe in karma. Life is complicated. 😂 I think it’s past my bedtime.
Such a great piece. And CAN CONFIRM!! I have a friend who left her abusive husband, and who immediately became a pariah in the recovery community she (and he) used to be part of. The abuse didn't stop after her divorce, because they had a child together. Their child also started being abused by him and ended up having to get a restraining order. The abuse didn't stop until he was killed by police as he tried to blow up propane tanks at an immigration facility. It was really suicide by cop, and he is lauded by some of the antifa groups as being a hero. Her life is finally much better, as is her child's. This guy was propped up and enabled by friends in recovery, by activists, and by the courts.
I'm so sorry to hear that your friend and her child suffered, and that the only way he was able to stop being abusive was to die. But yes, you're exactly right. That's the sort of thing I'm talking about.
It’s no different across the pond with people like Boris Johnson being portrayed as lovable clowns instead of being held to account.
I think people feel powerless and like they are too small to make a difference and that does eventually turn to cynicism (which is merely despair in a fashionable suit: a great quote but can’t remember who said it) but it really does only take one or two to speak out to inspire others to do the same and one small candle can become a great light.
I do have more to say but the morning coffee hasn’t quite kicked in yet so I will say again!
Thank you! And thanks for adding in Boris. I just don’t know enough about what’s going on elsewhere to add those examples in order to show how universal this truly is. But you connected that dot for me. Enjoy your coffee! ❤️
A really well-argued case for not giving our attention exclusively to the 'Big Bads'. You cite academics who use the term "banal acquiescence" which is a great phrase and, of course, makes us think of Hannah Arendt's idea 'banality of evil'. People have different reasons for just going along with the status quo or accepting evil, as Arendt told us. Sometimes it is pure cynicism, which this piece in the Atlantic reminds us: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/11/mitt-romney-retiring-senate-trump-mcconnell/675306/ The cynics and the self-servers are a danger too.
Really great writing. You used a lot of the same words I would use to describe my thoughts on the “news” during IQ45’s presidency. To some degree we are all complicit, and some days it feels like we have to fight ALL THE SYSTEMS ALL THE TIME. It does feel hopeless some days. I struggle with everything associated with our criminal justice system, given its corporate nature and the pipeline of brown and black male bodies being funneled in to places like Angola while white collar guys go to camps. I want some people to suffer and then immediately feel bad for wanting that. I don’t believe in divine retribution, but I do believe in karma. Life is complicated. 😂 I think it’s past my bedtime.
Such a great piece. And CAN CONFIRM!! I have a friend who left her abusive husband, and who immediately became a pariah in the recovery community she (and he) used to be part of. The abuse didn't stop after her divorce, because they had a child together. Their child also started being abused by him and ended up having to get a restraining order. The abuse didn't stop until he was killed by police as he tried to blow up propane tanks at an immigration facility. It was really suicide by cop, and he is lauded by some of the antifa groups as being a hero. Her life is finally much better, as is her child's. This guy was propped up and enabled by friends in recovery, by activists, and by the courts.
I'm so sorry to hear that your friend and her child suffered, and that the only way he was able to stop being abusive was to die. But yes, you're exactly right. That's the sort of thing I'm talking about.
This is great Asha, so many great points.
It’s no different across the pond with people like Boris Johnson being portrayed as lovable clowns instead of being held to account.
I think people feel powerless and like they are too small to make a difference and that does eventually turn to cynicism (which is merely despair in a fashionable suit: a great quote but can’t remember who said it) but it really does only take one or two to speak out to inspire others to do the same and one small candle can become a great light.
I do have more to say but the morning coffee hasn’t quite kicked in yet so I will say again!
Great piece!
Thank you! And thanks for adding in Boris. I just don’t know enough about what’s going on elsewhere to add those examples in order to show how universal this truly is. But you connected that dot for me. Enjoy your coffee! ❤️