Same here; documentaries have always been my favorite genre on the movie screen--followed closely by dramas which reflect history so closely that they are
near-documentaries
themselves (e.g., Schindler's List, Band of Brothers, etc.).
What is little-known about Hitler's evolution to such an unspeakable level of ethnic hatred, is that his book, "Mein Kampf," is in part a product of the influence of Martin Luther--
of all people. Most western, seminary-trained theologians do not know this, and if they do, they don't readily speak about it.
In short, and at the
noble end of the spectrum of human achievement, Martin Luther penned his "95 Theses," which became the theological spearhead of Protestantism (by mention of such, I in no wise speak ill of the Catholic Church, I rather underscore that Martin Luther's 95 Theses was a noble work). However, on the
treacherous end of the spectrum of human achievement, Martin Luther would later pen a series of writings on the "scourge of the Jews." And it was these latter writings which gave birth to the monster which grew inside Hitler--to later form the Nazi Regime--equating to the death of 20 million people in death camps--a number far greater than the readily-referenced "6 million" representing Jews.
My reference to Martin Luther's offerings is in no wise an attempt to defame the man. Much rather, the "spectrum" I've defined above is that which simply underscores that he was, in fact, a mere
man. Herein lay my overarching premise to the question of evil: I believe mankind to be inherently evil, and that we have to
learn to be good. And further, that we have to overcome our inherent evil, by discovering just how we can go about being transformed--on the
inside. Assuming ownership of a Jeep TJ is a very good start.
A "man of letters," who penned several weighty letters over 2,000 years ago, challenged his readers to "...hold every thought captive...". That is, to weigh and consider every thought--before it gives birth to the spoken or written word--which later gives birth to
action--whether good or evil. This said, when Martin Luther penned his 95 Theses he was clearly "holding every thought captive." However, when he penned his latter writings positing that "Jews were the scourge of the earth," he was likely indulging in too much fine beer--which tends to allow every thought to run amuck (nothing against beer, mind you--I enjoy it myself
).
I've spent time with holocaust survivors, in Israel, at Yad Vashem, the holocaust memorial. I had the supreme privilege of taking part in a ceremony therein, for one particular survivor. In and through meeting this woman, I'm left with one profound conclusion: The potential for evil in mankind can be terrifying. However the commensurate potential for kindness, mercy, compassion and love can
nullify such, and
triumph over evil, in the end. And, this potential reaches its climax when a human being has been exposed to the worst measure of suffering, including the holocaust, to then remarkably so,
choose to
forgive. And it is this capacity to forgive, which baffles me far more so than our capacity for evil.
@Squatch, you have my sincere apologies for waxing philosophical. To make amends for such, please allow me to diffuse my posturing by posing a more relevant question to this forum: What do you say, about the merits of the advantages versus disadvantages of the longer wheelbase in the LJ?
:jump: