The Jesus Complex.

[Cyrano]

When I was a kid, I wanted to save the world. I couldn't do that.

When I got older, I wanted to save the part of the world I came in contact with. I couldn't do that either.

Later on, I wanted to save myself. And to my discouragement, I found that even that might be out of reach.

I'm not talking about religion. I'm talking about the human condition.
And now, I'm looking at a sector of this planet called the United States. And there's very little I can do to save that either.

As a devout agnostic, I never put much capital in the terms "good" or "evil." But I am approaching the point where I believe that "evil" exists in this world.

If any event deserves the term "evil," it's the Holocaust. However, the Bush cabal of thugs have the power to destroy the entire planet with nuclear weapons. And there's not a damn thing I can do about it.

I believe that humanity as a whole has to rise up and say "Enough."
How does this come about? Beats me. But if there's some genius out there with an answer, share it with us. And please, hurry.

[JJackFlash]

1. Voltaire said

“Let us cultivate our garden” (instead of speculating on unanswerable problems).

[TallahasseeGrannie]

2. I have no answers

except love like crazy while you have the chance.

And I DO believe in evil. I see it everywhere, not just on the national level. I see it in, for example, alcohol and what it has done to my sister...who I just picked up from the third detox session in a month.

It is almost sinister. No, I take it back. It IS sinister. It as if it has a life of its own.

Something drove Hitler and I don't think it was just because he was short and had one nut.

Is Bush evil? I don't know for sure. The jury is out. He certainly has the capacity to act upon evil if he chooses.

I also believe evil uses good to do evil, which is why something so basically "good" as the Church went so sour and caused such suffering.

[Cyrano]

6. Dear TallahasseeGranny: I know it's hard, but it is what it is.

You can do only so much to help your sister. If you're feeling guilt, let it go. There's only so much you can do and you can't change the world -- or your sister's addiction.

My heart goes out to you as we are both living with circumstances we can't change, but can only cry about.

I can't share any religious dogma with you, but I can share with you whatever empathy we humans can pass on to one another.

[FreedomAngel82]

8. Yes

Evil is an action that you do from an emotion you have. If I hate someone I could take the action to do something nasty to them. Of course I don't do that. I'm not that type of person. I find other ways to take out my emotions whether from writing or my music or just any other way.

[politicaholic]

3. That "Enough" thing is sort of unprecidented worldwide...

and looking at what happened after multiple peasant uprisings and revolutions throughout history, they usually end up worse off. If there is a global revolution, my "dictator-dar" would be flashing brightly.

[LaurenG]

4. I think that there has always been evil

I think it stems from selfishness. I do believe that you, yes you, can make a difference. You just never know who and how you will affect someone. I think humanity is starting to say enough. I'm guessing that some of those who are saying enough are doing so because of you. You just never know...

[Extend a Hand]

5. today

I can make somebodies day brighter by stopping so that they can get out of the gas station on the corner.

I can give the guy on the freeway exit $5 bucks so he can get something to eat.

I can send a thank-you email to the boss of the person that helps me out at work.

I can commiserate with a friend in trouble.

I can let my son know how proud I am of him.

tomorrow I can vote for election reform :)

I'll bet you have no idea of all the ways you touch someones life in a meaningful way every single day.

[bonito]

7. A big hug to you! n/t

[Selatius]

9. My advice is to try your best with what little is left to you

There isn't much one person can do alone, but with what you do have, perhaps it should be used to try and get others to do something as well, to try and connect with others. We're a society where people are disconnected from each other. There isn't much time left, but wouldn't it be a good idea to use what little there is left to try and do something? Even if there isn't enough time to do that something?

I'm just one person walking somewhere. I'm not sure where I'm walking, but I hope I find an answer along the way. I guess we're both travelers in that sense.

As far as "evil" goes, I've always defined it as whether or not "monsters" exist. I believe monsters exist. Just look in a history book at the monsters in history who've inflicted misery and death upon others for their own gain.

[Az]

10. It's never really a single individual

There may be people that we come to recognise that stood up at the right time and right place. But the society will have already been primed long before that. It takes a lot of work to set the stage for these heroes. Unfortunately they get the bulk of the credit so people begin to wait and expect such a hero to come along and save them.

It takes people. Lots of people. Coming around to a new way of thinking. It takes the promotion of these new ideas. 1000s of champions bringing the ideas to more and more people. And once enough people are ready the hero will appear. But only when we have done the work to set the stage.

[StellaBlue]

11. An example

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peasants_Revolt