tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729289955062416774.post1555093692599052641..comments2023-11-12T10:12:51.801-05:00Comments on Elizabeth Twist: Wetiko, or, a New Approach to Old DeviltryElizabeth Twisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03133959633383307056noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729289955062416774.post-12503363683780468532012-04-26T14:36:37.355-04:002012-04-26T14:36:37.355-04:00Thanks for this comment, Sue Ann. There's a lo...Thanks for this comment, Sue Ann. There's a lot to think about here. <br /><br />While not exclusive to European culture, I would say the "us vs. them" mindset was perfected and reached its pinnacle of perversity in the dominant global culture and through certain individuals within that culture (hello, George Bush). It most definitely originated in Europe and infected the Americas via colonization. <br /><br />In the context of global dominant culture, "they / them / the other" is there to be exploited and is utterly dehumanized. I do not think this attitude is universal. I think you can acknowledge "that group over there is different from us," without adding exploitation and dehumanization into the mix. I think there are a lot of groups who do discern between their own identity and other identities without trying to attack on that basis. <br /><br />My understanding of Native American philosophies is that "everything living is 'us'" is a core principle. Likewise Taoist / Shinto beliefs, shamanistic traditions, and so on. There are lots of examples of this loving outlook in the world, but they are hard to access through all this noise.Elizabeth Twisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133959633383307056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729289955062416774.post-67754440616655173322012-04-26T14:20:04.317-04:002012-04-26T14:20:04.317-04:00It's us too, right? Every time we choose ego o...It's us too, right? Every time we choose ego over our true selves.Elizabeth Twisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133959633383307056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729289955062416774.post-31162662719978794272012-04-26T14:19:24.837-04:002012-04-26T14:19:24.837-04:00Absolutely. The darkness has the best PR. If you l...Absolutely. The darkness has the best PR. If you like the analogy, you might enjoy Paul Levy's book.Elizabeth Twisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133959633383307056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729289955062416774.post-21812358668062901242012-04-26T14:18:31.791-04:002012-04-26T14:18:31.791-04:00It's not about people being entirely good or e...It's not about people being entirely good or evil - agreed, that's too easy. For me it's more about acknowledging that global dominant culture has taken a bad turn, and the consequences are inescapable and much more broad-reaching than people like to think. <br /><br />"Malignant egophrenia" just about sums it up.Elizabeth Twisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133959633383307056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729289955062416774.post-28417125389314215122012-04-26T12:47:01.757-04:002012-04-26T12:47:01.757-04:00The "Us and them" mindset is by no means...The "Us and them" mindset is by no means exclusive to Europeans. It probably goes back to the days of wandering bands, and exists in many forms. For a psychopath, "Us" may be only self and everything else is not-human. At the other extreme, everything living may be seen as "us." One of the arguments of patriotism is the tendency of many to put the borders at the borders of the USA (or parents born in the USA) while others recognize that all members of Homo sapiens are equally human. For others the boundary can be racial, religious, or how much money "they" have. What seems universal is that the "us" is seen as human, worthy, like-me, while the "them" is seen as less than human.Sue Ann Bowlinghttp://homecomingbook.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729289955062416774.post-64361638812257274242012-04-26T08:56:58.260-04:002012-04-26T08:56:58.260-04:00I believe evil hides behind the face of a loved on...I believe evil hides behind the face of a loved one a lot of times, it has to, to be able to infect us. Thus the dredge of society walks among us, as friend not foe.Traci Kenworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07336373871521363649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729289955062416774.post-61585378025096197342012-04-26T08:23:34.074-04:002012-04-26T08:23:34.074-04:00People in general seem to have this idea that evil...People in general seem to have this idea that evil walks around with a Hello! I'm EVIL sticker on and is as subtle as a ton of bricks... <br /><br />No, not at all. The pathogen is an excellent analogy. We're all infected, to some degree, and our culture encourages it. <br /><br />Excellent post, love the detail.blankenship.louisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05541461775158369620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1729289955062416774.post-68570646492737184152012-04-26T07:43:15.874-04:002012-04-26T07:43:15.874-04:00Unsettling, unnerving and not of my liking. Maybe ...Unsettling, unnerving and not of my liking. Maybe I'm a big wuss? The first image is especially disturbing.<br /><br />As for evil? Sure that can only be gauged by the act of the moment? Can someone be evil 24/7? I doubt it, just like no one can be good 24/7 either. You look at the famous serial killers, they had times of 'normality' that allowed them to move freely amongst us without hue or cry. I suppose it's the inner self that is the true gauge of good or evil, and the way it is put into motion, either intentionally or not.<br /><br />I could be talking complete bollocks, though.<br /><br />As a PS: check my 'W' post and watch the Guild Wars 2 trailer - after reading that you like to blow sh*t up and collect treasure, I thought you might be interested in it ;)Mark Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13002166292175980928noreply@blogger.com