Badtux the Snarky Penguin

In a time of chimpanzees, I was a penguin.

Religious fundamentalists are motivated by the sneaking suspicion that someone, somewhere, is having fun -- and that this must be stopped.

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Evil persists because we are cowards

In a moment of utter honesty, I discuss who is really responsible for the war in Iraq. Hint: It is not George W. Bush.

Then The Heretik brings up the 72nd anniversary of the death of Sophie Scholl, excuted for exhorting the German people to rise up from their complacency. On this day 72 years later, where once again a superpower is led by a madman who is running the nation and its armies into the ground, perhaps we should listen to the words of this young woman who tried to nudge the German people from their complicity in evil:

The real damage is done by those millions who want to 'survive.' The honest men who just want to be left in peace. Those who don’t want their little lives disturbed by anything bigger than themselves. Those with no sides and no causes. Those who won’t take measure of their own strength, for fear of antagonizing their own weakness. Those who don’t like to make waves—or enemies. Those for whom freedom, honor, truth, and principles are only literature. Those who live small, mate small, die small. It’s the reductionist approach to life: if you keep it small, you’ll keep it under control. If you don’t make any noise, the bogeyman won’t find you. But it’s all an illusion, because they die too, those people who roll up their spirits into tiny little balls so as to be safe. Safe?! From what? Life is always on the edge of death; narrow streets lead to the same place as wide avenues, and a little candle burns itself out just like a flaming torch does. I choose my own way to burn.

Evil persists because good men refuse to act. Indeed, turn their heads to avoid seeing. And I do not exempt myself from this judgement. We are good Germans, honest men who just want to be left in peace, who don't want our little lives disturbed by anything bigger than ourselves. Oh, sure, we may pound these keys and pretend that we are making a difference, but, really, what acts do we take against evil? Nothing. Nothing but blather. Nothing but blather and righteous indignation then we return to our comfy homes and our lives of quiet desperation defecating and masticating and fornicating secure in our righteousness.

We have no one to blame for evil but ourselves.

- Badtux the Brutal Penguin

Posted by: BadTux / 2/23/2005 11:47:00 AM

Comments:

Well said, my flippered friend. Fight on in the fight that must be won.
# posted by The Heretik : 23/2/05 2:40 PM

From one odd bird to another:

Couldn't have said it better myself.
# posted by Mimus Pauly : 25/2/05 8:58 AM

Did the extended piece on Sophie with credit to you, flipper.
# posted by The Heretik : 25/2/05 9:03 AM

This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
# posted by Anonymous : 11/12/05 3:00 PM

Truer words have never been spoken. I`v we all could only find the courage she had. Including myself.
# posted by Anonymous : 2/5/06 11:17 AM

Honor Roll

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Liberated Iraqis

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More to follow, after I finish cursing SOB chickenhawks and get my breath back...

"Keep fighting for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don't forget to have fun doin' it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce." -- Molly Ivins, 1944-2007

"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."

-- Plato

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