A View on Humanity: Synthesis Assignment

Searcy writes,

"With reference to both "The Lottery" and "The Perils of Indifference," (use direct quotes) demonstrate that terrible violence and inhumanity can be demonstrated by the most "ordinary"
citizens. If you wish, you may conclude with a personal reflection on your own abilities to partake in acts resembling the ones mentioned in the story."

Jovial was the Saturday, the special Saturday that came only once a year to the ordinary townspeople of Shirley Jackson's short story, "The Lottery". While fictional, its citizens collectively compare to the seemingly 'ordinary' individuals that swore allegiance to the Third Reich of Hitler's day, as delineated by Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel in his famous speech, "The Perils of Indifference."

"The lottery was conducted -- as were the square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program," pens Jackson, "by Mr. Summers." Mr. Summers is described as a round-faced gentleman whom the people admired, with no kids of his own and a 'scold' for a wife. He ran a coal business in town that serviced the people and was, by no means, 'abnormal' in any sense of the word: he was a married working man that serviced the people, devoid of any secret identities that would label him a 'monster' or 'maniac' . Yet, it was Mr. Summers who conducted these "lotteries"- clear euphemisms for the selective stonings that would take place every year. Indifference, according to Elie Wiesel, is what "...spurs even the most civil into the most dastardly of folk."

Mailbag Volume I: Superhero Edition

Dear Supreme Chancellor of Funk,

If you could have any superpower in the world, what would it be and why?

-Kate from Ohio

________________________________________________________

Thanks for writing Kate. If I could have any superpower in the world, it’d probably be the ability to punch people over the internet. (See defense below)

Justice

Now I understand that some of you freedom hating commie liberal readers may be a little uneasy about my decision, claiming that it's inhumane or just plain wrong to incite violence.

"What would Jesus do," I can hear them saying, "assuming of course that he did indeed exist because I am so liberal?"

Blessed are the evildoers, for they shall inherit my fist.

The defense rests.