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Sunday, May 16, 2010

The problem with neutrality

"Take sides.
Neutrality helps the oppressor,

never the oppressed.
Silence encourages the tormentor,
never the tormented."

--Elie Weisel (holocaust survivor, author of "Night")


Precisely why I will not be neutral, and will not be quiet. ☺

7 comments:

  1. i agree...sometimes anyway, although often both sides have validity and the world is often more gray than black and white...

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  2. ...but certainly in cases of human rights violation and cases where people are "tormented", i agree.

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  3. Some things have a clear right and wrong, but in many cases even where it's just a matter of opinion (here I would put most politics) I think it's better to pick a side and be active about it than to sit around in the middle doing nothing and not caring.

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  4. Have you read the "Sword of Truth" books by Terry Goodkind? If you like to read and you like fantasy/sci fi at all - you'd like them. Later in the series especially he really gets into this idea of fighting for what you believe in. (I LOVE these books and that theme)

    Just like the old country song... "You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything...."

    :)

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  5. Fabulous quote. I'm reading "The Help" right now for a book group. I'm bringing this quote to our meeting.

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  6. I totally agree with them..fabulous quote.

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  7. How funny to see this on your blog today - my son and I just had a very long conversation about this. I agree with you 100% - there is no such thing as neutral, it is just a cop out for those who are too lazy or apathetic to be "really" good or evil - and neutrality allows evil to prosper [which makes "neutrality" evil vicariously!]

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