LEVELS
Is all evil equal in scope? Hardly. Bearing false
witness may get one person sent to prison and another elected to high office. Each
day we overlook those who endanger others by careless and evil actions. There
are scales and degrees. Let us say levels of evil behavior.
One can’t imagine or discuss, though, the Holocaust
without classifying it as one of the most evil phenomenon ever perpetrated by a
group of individuals. In a spirit not of simplification but of management, let
us use it, along with the cleansing of Cambodia, the purges of modern Russia,
and others as ore from which we might mine answers. How did those atrocities
occur in the presence of knowing witnesses? Who were the prime movers, who the
secondary, and who was further down the line? This will require a great deal of
value judgements, but that is precisely why we use these examples.
Following is a suggested order of the primacy of
evil phenomenon:
Supreme Catalysts: Adolph Hitler, Joseph
Stalin, and Pol Pot come to mind immediately. Let us simply say that, at this
level of evildoing, the evil phenomenon in question may have never happened, or
at least would have never reached its level of ferocity had these individuals
died at birth or some point prior to the culmination of the onslaught of evil. In
History’s Gallery of Evil, they and their lot hold the highest of thrones.
Takers of Advantage: Let us take Tomás de
Torquemada, (born 1420, Valladolid, Castile [Spain]—died September 16, 1498,
Ávila, Castile), first grand inquisitor in Spain, whose name has become
synonymous with the Christian Inquisition’s horror, religious bigotry, and
cruel fanaticism.[i]
The Spanish Inquisition would likely have occurred
had Torquemada never been born. He was able, though, to attach it to a
disenoblement of human history, even religion, itself. (Yes, I know that’s
probably not a word, but it’s the only term I could think of.) His motivation
died with him but it is not hard to imagine that the enrichment of friends and
associates, or even himself, may have played a part.
The crew of sycophants who surround the Takers of
Advantage often seek advantage of their own. Hitler could not have conducted
his evil empire nearly as effectively without the support of those like
Himmler, Eichmann, Goering, Speer, and Goebbels. We only need to turn on our
TVs today to see the faces of modern sycophants seeking to ride the evil tide,
one created by their master, to glory, fame, power, or riches.
Closer to the historical home front, it makes us
shudder to learn that some of the financial leaders of New York City wanted to
recognize the Confederacy, and its evil purpose, because of their close association
with cotton producers.[ii]
To paraphrase a modern idiom, “Money talks and honor walks.”
Riders Along: Moving a step down from those
who gain from evil, we find those who simply go along with for reasons hidden
from view. This begins what many now feel is the truly frightening levels of the
“movers and shakers” of evil doings. They enable evil before our very eyes because
we have classified them as decent, honorable people. Consider the American general
who allowed his troops to capture free Americans and transport them to slave states.
Continuing with the Nazi example, (perhaps the
most familiar to us) we find a scale of perpetuators ranging from the commander
of the submarine that sank the Lusitania to the Prussian general corps. They
allow the winds of evil to fill the sails of history.
Turners of Heads: Even more frightening is
the group that sees evil and does nothing. We will seek motivations in the next
chapter. Let’s just say for now that these represent the rudders that are never
turned though the shoals are quite visible and dead ahead. Apathy destroys by
allowing evil to destroy.
Members of a Mob: Of all the members of the
forces of evil, this is the only group that might ultimately express
repentance. Unable to deny participation, their only defense is having chosen
poorly because of the excitement and delirium of the moment. Sadly, they often
must stand before the smoldering ruins they have created when seeking our understanding
or forgiveness.
Takers of Scalps: The most disgusting
movers of evil don’t take part in its execution. They don’t claim participation
in any group associated with the damage it causes. When pressed, they deny even
being on the scene. But they were. They are like the nonparticipants who rush
onto the scene of battle after the warriors have left and proceed to scalp the
wounded and rob the dead. All they do, they say, is “report the facts.” Today,
as most of us know, facts are not “stubborn things,” as John Adams once said. Instead,
they are proprietary things, as owners of news channels use them.
The flotilla of evildoers looms large. Do we dare
question their choice of courses to travel? Stay tuned.
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