I don't often write about politics, and most of my thoughts on religion are disjointed and poorly articulated. Sometimes I'll try to work though ideas on paper (or screen, as the case may be) to help myself sort them out...this is not a thesis, it is an exercise.
When my clock radio went on this morning, I heard, through the fog of sleep, the story about Cardinal Renato Martino's declaration of compassion for Saddam Hussein. From what I heard, it sounded like this was controversial.
Now unless Cardinal Martino tried to excuse or justify Hussein's brutality, or suggested that he be returned to power, I can't see why this would be a controversy. The Catholic Church suggesting compassion? Why is this a shock?
My understanding of Christianity is that compassion, mercy, and forgivness are the ideal for which to strive.
Being revolted by Hussein is easy, to say the least. Compassion, whew, that is hard, very hard.
Something has really been on my mind, about Hussein, bin Laden, John Muhammad and Lee Malvo, or any terrorist, and that's the dehumanization of them. I've seen them called monsters and seen what they did called "inhuman."
But the thing is...they are human. What they did was inhumane, but not inhuman...humans are very obviously quite capable of vicious, brutal, cruel, malevolent...I could go on with synonyms until I reach evil...acts.
If we make them inhuman because of those acts, we distance ourselves...I am not related to that. I can not be that.
Thing is...I am. I know it. I'm not the tyrannical dictator of a country and it is not within my power to slaughter my citizens, but I know I'm capable of feeling bloodlust and hate.
I knew it Sunday morning when I heard Hussein had been captured and I though, let the Iraqis have him. Muslim death penalties aren't as quick and painless as ours...
I know it when somebody cuts me off in traffic.
The hate is in me. The evil is in me.
I quit going to church some time ago, but for the last few years I've really been exploring...spirituality, I guess is the term. I'm trying to figure out how I ought to be living my life.
It's an ongoing thing I don't explain well. But part of my...philosophy?...is that there is good and there is evil, and I need to try, constantly and mindfully, to choose good.
Minor example: guy cuts me off in traffic. Not only does the bastard cut me off, he makes me miss the light. Not only that, but the sonovabitch is driving a T-Bird, a car I can't afford. I hate that jerk. Reckless maniac, I hope he wrecks the car.
Deep breath...so I'm two minutes later getting home. Big deal. So I don't have a T-Bird. I do have a car, a reasonably safe and reliable car, and I'm not standing outside in the slush waiting to catch a bus. And that guy is driving recklessly...I hope he doesn't have a wreck, I hope he doesn't hurt himself or anyone else driving that way.
Major example: Saddam Hussein. I can justify hating him, justify wanting him dead, no, wanting him tortured the way he tortured so so many others...I can justify that because he's evil.
But no. Without excusing what he did, without justifying what he did, with a complete agreement that this is a person who did evil things, I need to try to feel compassion, mercy, and forgiveness.
It seems to me that evil spreads evil. Vengence spreads vengence. Can we treat Hussein in a humane way, keep him from harming anyone else, yet keep him from harm? Aspire to good and turn away from continuing evil?
That's rhetorical. I know. No. And a lot of people will argue quite convincingly that Hussein's eventual execution is not continuing evil.
And it isn't something over which I have a speck of control...just something I am thinking about. And thinking about that is reminding me how often I slip into hate and bloodlust and dehumanization and indifference on a regular daily basis over the little things, and those I can control.
Posted by Nic at December 17, 2003 08:59 AM | TrackBack