Friday, May 2, 2014

Raw Emotions Don't Lead To Just Laws

Scott Adams, the cartoonist who created Dilbert, wants to kill anyone that disagrees with him about assisted suicide.  If you believe assisted suicide is wrong, beware of Scott Adams.  Any politicians who voted against assisted suicide are on his list as well.

Adams blogged late last year, "If you're a politician who has ever voted against doctor-assisted suicide, or you would vote against it in the future, I hate your f- guts and I would like you to die a long, horrible death. I would be happy to kill you personally and watch you bleed out. I won't do that, because I fear the consequences"  Then went on to say, "I'm okay with any citizen who opposes doctor-assisted suicide on moral or practical grounds. But if you have acted on that thought, such as basing a vote on it, I would like you to die a slow, horrible death too." 

It is understandable to get emotional about watching a loved one die a slow painful death, no doubt.  It is understandable that there are people who can relate to his experience and support him.  But, does it justify approval of bullying and demonization?  Adam's rhetoric and lack of civility is dangerous.  We can certainly allow people to burst out in anger over painful matters and to express their grief.  In fact, we should encourage the release of anger in private.  In public we can have a debate, but it is impossible if these kinds of raw emotions are part of the equation.

You might be saying, "But, this is a good thing because it shows how much Adams loves his father."  However, as C.S. Lewis put it, human love "begins to be a demon the moment it becomes a god."  If we make certain things okay, such as killing those who disagree with you, for the sake of love, we allow ourselves to justify evil.

If we allow gross incivility and bullying in the name of love, we have forgotten what the word "love" means.

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