Kev;
"The world in shades of gray as it truly is" Whew !
Perhaps you would like to rephrase that statement ! I am well aware that there is a current thought process becoming accepted in this world that says in effect,
that everything in this world is in "shades of gray".
That is a dangerous philosophy which historically, has led to all types of excess and cruelty. Yes, there are "gray areas" in this world..(e.g. Ford/Chevy, blonde/brunette,
JohnDeere/Farmall, North/South etc.) There are even some in governmental order (e.g. Capitalism/Communism) but a rational person can usually figure which is better
by viewing what the final result is toward freedom for the individual.
I submit that there exist many "black & white" areas for which you seem to hold such distain. Consider the lead in for THIS VERY THREAD. There are several things
that come to mind that I believe, beg an answer that rises above the "gray morass" that some would have us to accept ! A couple examples:
1) A twelve year old girl is kidnapped, raped and killed. ......Is that right , or is it wrong ?
2) It APPEARS that 2 women were (sisters) were bringing pedophiles into their homes to live among their children.
....If such is true...Is that right or is it wrong ?
3) Two "men" (I use that term loosely) and perhaps more; have combined their "wits" to form a scheme whereby they can capture, abuse and possibly kill
adolescent children. Is that right or is it wrong ?
Surely a man can answer whether those actions are right or wrong...without any "gray area" debate !!!
The problem with "gray area" thinking is that if one adopts this philosophy whole heartedly, they soon lose their powers of inductive and deductive reasoning.
To start with, they may have a problem with deciding somewhat mundane questions, such as:
A) Is widespread use of alcohol good for society ?
B) Are songs such as "Highway to Hell" and "Amazing Grace" equally edifying to the human soul ?
C) Should I teach my children to avoid smoking cigarettes ?
D) Historically, has the acceptance of homosexuality as equal to normal relations, been good or bad for cultures ?
Carried to an extreme, they really" lose it " ! Soon they cannot differentiate between Mother Theresa and Alister Crowley, Mahatma Ghandi and Che Guverra,
George Bush and Saddam Hussein. Some devotees of the "gray area" thinking (or non-thinking) process, cannot firmly conclude the differences between Adolph Hitler
and Generals Eisenhower, Bradley and Patton.
In the 1930s, Germany had an over supply of "gray area" thinkers...
Left to erode the critical thinking process..such a mind lapses into the trap of "moral equivalence"; where they see the efforts of the "coalition of the willing"
trying to bring millions of Iraqis ouit of slavery..is the moral equivalent of the Al Queda's efforts to bring those same people INTO even greater slavery !
Some "Americans" afflicted with this syndrome even see our brave soldiers and Marines as the "moral equivalent" to the terrorists..these people have lost their
ability to see the difference between emancipating and enslaving !
They may even equivocate the drug smuggler with the honest border patrolman..
In the extreme, "gray area" thinking ( or non-thinking) makes a person accept all kinds of evil and wrongs as equivalent to any kind of good and noble actions.
Such people are the ones most easily led by the likes of a Stalins, George Rockwells, the mullahs or Che Guverras of this world. Very easy to say "all is gray", no need
then to trouble oneself with really cutting to the quick to analyze a question.
I am not accusing anybody here of such "gray area" thinking. In fact, there is no need of such; if a person is a gray thinker..their posts will soon either confirm or
deny such a suggestion.
Realistically, some folks just think they are too smart..for their own good..
