Dept. of Evil Shit

[kaffy_r]

 Because Beheading's so Last Week

Fighting very hard not to say "Let's Drop the Big One, and See What Happens."

1. Take one large part teenage "oh, you're not impressed with what we did first? Well how about this?" Make sure it's buried under other layers in the recipe, because it's at the core of the dish. Very, very important to the whole thing.
2. Add a heaping helping of "It's OK to ignore my conscience, and indulge and nurture  my sadistic tendencies until they grow way beyond my ability to stop them growing further, because someone told me God will pardon me and that God wants me to do this."
3. Mix in a pinch - only a pinch, mind you, but spread it over the top, so it's the first thing everyone sees in the final baked good - of real grievances. 

4. Bake. 

5. Wait for the world to weep. 

Comments

[heliopausa]

I couldn't bear to read beyond the headlines. I don't have any answer at all.

[kaffy_r]

There are no answers, just sorrow. Jordan just executed two al-Qaeda prisoners in retaliation. At least those poor bastards (one male, one female) probably got either a bullet or were hung. Little enough mercy, and I shouldn't even be talking as if it were mercy, but ... yeah, no answers.

[shanghaied]

1. I hate politics, at all levels. And war, at all levels. And Homo sapiens in general because they insist on committing both over and over and over.

2. You get a zillionty points for referencing one of the greatest of all Randy Newman songs.

3. Auntie says this shit ain't going away any time soon. Eurggh.

[kaffy_r]

I just keep asking why each of us human's can't stop being so afraid of each other that we think hate and attack are the best, the only, answer.

Mind you, the fact that so much brutality seems to happen only after the fires of hate are stoked to horrendous levels suggests to me that there is a part of the human spirit, and conscience, that stubbornly won't give up. I think that people egg themselves and each other on to hate whatever it is that they want to get rid of, because if they don't hate, they can't bring themselves to do the violence.

That is, perhaps, horribly inverted proof that there is something good that refuses to die - even if it can't immediately triumph - inside us. And until that admittedly cooling ember completely dies, I can't give up on us yet.

I do thank you for linking me to information on IS/IL. Dear god.

On an ever so slightly less grim note, that song is a constant in our house; it gets sung a lot, and I've always been grateful to my Best Beloved to introducing me to Randy Newman. (And also to Harry Nilsson, for that matter.) We'll always save Australia; don't wanna kill no kangaroos ....

[shanghaied]

I just keep asking why each of us human's can't stop being so afraid of each other that we think hate and attack are the best, the only, answer.

Because we're chimpanzees? If only we were bonobos: they're not exactly perfect, but there's a lot less unpleasantness and a lot more wild orgies fondue parties social compatibility between communities :-S

I can't give up on us yet

Then don't! It pretty much assuredly won't help the general human condition to have a few good and optimistic people around, but you never know :-)

On an ever so slightly less grim note, that song is a constant in our house

Are you by any chance acquainted with the mighty Etta James' version of That's Why I Love Mankind? Dear mongooses of mercy, that woman took Newman's already awesome song to intergalactic levels of awesomeness. 'God' played as the biggest, baddest black mama that ever put a revival-tent preacher to shame...

[kaffy_r]

If only we were bonobos:

BB introduced me to Bonobos, and he has a saying - "I Go Bonobo" to describe a good deal of his worldview. Or, as he says: "We've got differences? Let's fuck about it!"

And now I must head off to find a recording of Ms James' version.

[shanghaied]

This one's far more restrained and nowhere near as stunning as the times I saw and heard her do it live, but it's a start :-)

[kaffy_r]

Well that version can strip paint off an altar, which is proof that the proper restraint can be more elegantly corrosive than any unplanned explosion. Excellent work from a woman who lived a hard, hard life.

I always loved that song; poor Randy being all indignant at God for not existing, like some second year Philosophy student, but with all his talent to improve the infrastructure of indignation and make it a worthwhile endeavor.

ETA: Huh; just realized that last sounded like the dismissive comment of an injured believer. It isn't - as I say in my profile, "God and I have an ambiguous relationship, when I believe they exist." I've just always had that reaction to many of Randy's songs. He reminds me that there is a significant sub-population of cynics who are simply bruised romantics of various sorts.

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Ffffff....

I can't believe this. This is just...and they use their 'God' to justify it. I wouldn't want to know their god and if they thought about it, they wouldn't either.

And to make it worse, we have morons here who decry about their 'God' and how He will kick their 'God's' arse...wtf?! THIS IS THE DAMNED PROBLEM.


Ffffff...

*Cries*

*HUGS*

[kaffy_r]

And now Jordan has announced it's killing the al Qaeda prisoner it was trying to swap for the pilot at dawn. Given the time difference, the guy - who was a failed suicide bomber, apparently - is probably dead, too. And that's gonna help a whole hell of lot. And yet, I understand the anger; I suppose it's what the extremists count on. An emotional response to horror that includes retaliatory killing, which gives them yet another imagined transgression for them to punish. At least the poor bastard the Jordanians killed probably got a bullet in the head, or hanging. And I can't believe I said it that coolly.

ETA: My mistake. Jordan executed two prisoners at dawn. *Cries*

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Gods...what is WRONG with these people?!

*Holds you close*

[kaffy_r]

There are so many areas around the globe in which humans do horrific things to each other, that I shouldn't focus on one thing, but sometimes that's all you can do. Thank you for the hugs.

And, in a deliberate attempt to shake this off, I'm going to ask how you're doing, and how you're making out. Because you're wonderful!

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

You're welcome, honey. And, man - do I ever understand. Sometimes it is hard to see around the damned trees for the frigging forest.

I'm hanging in. Life is rather good right now. All we're waiting for is our taxes to be in so we can get a working vehicle so getting to a job and back again (not to mention just grocery shopping!) will be easier. Hell, I walked two miles to day to get supplies for the house. Not that I minded overly much, just...an hour out of my day, just to get essential items. Cannot wait for that to end, lol!!

*HUGS*

[flowsoffire.livejournal.com]

RIP. And the chaos, deaths and cruelty continue. *doesn't even have anything further to say at this point*

[kaffy_r]

I know; what is there to say, except to pray that peoples' hearts change?

[flowsoffire.livejournal.com]

Indeed… ♥

[green-maia.livejournal.com]

I can't stop crying about this.

[kaffy_r]

I understand. Right now, all I can offer are a couple of far more light-filled links - at least, they made me smile today, and the second one is something that might resonate with you. Maybe they'll help you as well.