Andrew Sullivan is taking a bit of flack about his recent columns on the trampling deaths at the Hajj. Sullivan's right to be bothered by the 'so what' attitude but I think he needs to think a bit deeper about what fatalism's relationship is to the Islamist death-cult.
It's not indifference to human life that is a problem with fatalism. Fatalism is an indifference to the idea that you, as a person inside the system, have any responsibility, or even ability to affect things for the better.
The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.
Yeats' words are very much on point, those written above, and yes, the rest of them too.
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
What rough beast indeed?
Posted by TMLutas at February 4, 2004 10:49 AM