10 Comments

That story slaps. What a banger. More deep than that hole Darth Maul falls into

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That comment made me laugh out loud. Thanks, Jake! Glad you could work Darth Maul into this.

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I had to think of something random to reference

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"He believed that, deep down, he was capable of any of the monstrous depravities he saw in his society and in the world at large."

Such a lesson and insight there. Keeps the "us vs them" at bay. Plenty of historical examples and sociological studies that demonstrate this pretty well. We are all capable of what we find abhorrent. Many reasons for going down a path of destruction: mental illness, trauma that results in self medicating with drug use or destructive behavior, fall in with the wrong ideas in your community (Nazi Germany for a huge example, Rwanda). The banality of evil also comes to mind.

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“We are all capable of what we find abhorrent.” Well stated, sir. Keeping the “us v them” mentality at bay. I love that.

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Hard hitting post. Really paints a picture and a mood and obviously those conflicting emotions. Man, I've had patient's with swastika and other sickening kinds of tattoos and have had similar natural thoughts and emotions arise, but seeing things out in the wild, outside of the hospital/ER setting is completely different as I've really only experienced during my EMS/Ambulance ride along rotation in med school (which was super fun btw. Love that Firehouse lifestyle!). I watched the YouTube clip and am definitely going to have to watch the full film. You've recommended Merton to me before and I need to check out some of his work. I think this is an admirable approach, especially in care for the suffering and/or dying. I can't say that I'm not conflicted about this internally though and you can easily play the thought experiments of how far you take it taking care of someone representing perhaps something you find abhorrent. Does it or should it reach a level where you just don't? I don't know. In a limited resources/triage type of setting, I think it probably does. Offering love, kindness, attempts at understanding, and easing pain is always probably (qualifiers qualifiers from my internal conflict) a good path to take. Perhaps even more so in the face of hate.

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Beau...thoughtful as ever. Yeah, the thought experiments are inevitable. How far? Is there a line? Like you say...love, kindness, attempts at understanding, easing pain...a good path for sure! Doesn’t mean it’s easy, right? Yeah, Merton is a kick. New Seeds of Contemplation would be right up your alley.

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Easier said than done but I certainly hope whoever is treating me in an emergency isn't judging me and examining my sins.....I wouldn't be worthy of their help.

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Well said, Isaac. None of us would be worthy. Thank God for grace and mercy!

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It definitely resonates … I have memories of treating assault victims and in the next room treating their attackers. Or being yelled at and insulted either vaguely or outright antisemitism slurs by patients and consciously putting my thoughts and reactions to the side to treat these people as I’d want to be treated. It’s a hard thing to do. The times when I’m not able to handle it and have admittedly lost my cool is when I see behaviors that attack my staff. I tolerate it against me, but not against my coworkers.

That being said, I don’t think you could have picked a better concert film than The Last Waltz.

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