Yesterday, watching a computer expert at work, I was again overcome with awe at the genius of humanity. And again I was reminded of how Rabbi Finley tried to denigrate human greatness by invoking the Nazis and Stalin -- that was his proof that “humans need god.” Without the “eye in the sky,” the god of punishment keeping us in line, we are allegedly bestially evil. Because of my family background I know more about evil, both Nazi and Stalinist, from the victims themselves, than Rabbi Finley will ever know. Maybe it’s in part my knowledge of evil that actually makes my belief in human goodness all the more heart-felt. I say with Anne Frank, “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” This statement, which moved me to tears the first time I read Anne’s Diary, has been reviled by those who deny the essential human goodness. Yet undeniably our first impulse is to trust and cooperate, even to the point of risking our life to save a stranger (endless stories of that; even the proverbial “little old ladies” using their cane to great effect!). We evolved that way; cooperation is the reason we have survived as a species. Goodness and genius -- the collective genius of humanity. We are part of the collective Logos and Mythos (my thanks to Karen Armstrong for clarifying the mythos part -- a collection of stories that contain consolation and guidance). Thus, on Summer Solstice, I was thrilled by this video that’s being posted again and again -- it deserves to go “viral” (a wonderful double meaning). upworthy/long-shot-doctors-inject-fatal-virus-into-dying-girl-this-100-true-story-will-amaze-you.html?c=upw1
Posted on: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 17:21:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015