empathy and universal compassion rather than to anger and racial profiling

[G_j]

Last edited Tue Apr 16, 2013, 12:06 PM - Edit history (2)

some sane thoughts IMO,
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2683433

Can the Boston Bombings increase our Sympathy for Iraq and Syria, for all such Victims?
Published on April 16th, 2013
Written by: Juan Cole

<snip>

There is negative energy implicit in such a violent event, and there is potential positive energy to be had from the way that we respond to it. To fight our contemporary pathologies, the tragedy has to be turned to empathy and universal compassion rather than to anger and racial profiling. Whatever sick mind dreamed up this act did not manifest the essence of any large group of people. Terrorists and supremacists represent only themselves, and always harm their own ethnic or religious group along with everyone else.

<snip>

[HereSince1628]

1. I don't see much of the sanity...

I see yet another of the pundit class who in attempting to rationalize horrendous acts beyond his understanding id defaulting to descriptions that basically blame mental illness: "Whatever sick mind dreamed up this act"

It's so common Americans don't even notice it. It's just a part of our context much like the n-word in Mark Twain.

[G_j]

2. I didn't get the impression he was defaulting

to mental illness at all. Most anyone would probably agree that it takes a "sick mind"
to commit any act of terror. That is a figure of speech often used to describe murderers.

[HereSince1628]

3. "That is a figure of speech often used to describe murderers" Yes

that, in fact, is entirely the point! We frequently default to language about the mentally ill when we need something to blame.



The government at all levels is rallying around the idea of this having been a terrorist attack.

Terrorist acts are done in the name of a cause. In that they are similar to military acts of violence being justified by a 'right cause'. It doesn't take a sick mind to enlist in a cause.



I can't say that a 'sick mind' couldn't be involved, but the language is purposeful in distinguishing the perpetrator as diseased ... as something less than the good clean healthy "us". At its best its chauvinist cheerleading, at its worst it's just an expression of insensitivity and bigotry about mental illness.

[G_j]

4. Did you actually read the piece?

That was not the theme. Your problem with term "sick mind" is noted. This term and variations of "sick" are commonly used in the culture to refer to things aside from mental illness. I acknowledge your issue with the term, but you completely overlook
the aim of the piece to suggest people be empathetic and compassionate towards victims in other parts of the world.