Sometimes I have trouble trying to describe my beliefs and political affiliations. I often try to refrain from talking politics with people if I am unsure of their affiliation but sometimes I just can't help myself and have to speak my mind.
I am registered with one party but I am a firm believer that not everything this party says and does is right. There are issues where I seem to identify with the other side more. In general, my political party is the "What's Right" party (and also The Rent is Too Damn High Party - doesn't get much better than that). In other words, I think what's right is right regardless of who says it, like a Democrat or Republican.
Another issue I struggle with is nature versus nurture. I will find myself saying one thing with one group of people, and then arguing for the other side with another group of people. What I do believe in is taking responsibility for one's actions. If we made excuses for everyone, this would would be a scary place with inherently bad people on the loose.
While I was reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that what I couldn't put into words, Stieg Larsson could. I don't think that this book is all it's cracked up to be (I plan on writing a full review soon) but his words on a few particular pages really struck me. I had no idea that part of the plot had to do with the Swedish government and laws until I reached the end.
Here is an excerpt:
"We know that Gottfried was responsible for the first series of murders, between 1949 and 1965."
"OK. And he brought on little Martin."
"Talk about a dysfunctional family," Blomkvist said. "Martin didn't really have a chance."
Salander gave him a strange look.
"What Martin told me - even though it was rambling - was that his father started his apprenticeship after he reached puberty. He was there at the murder of Lea in Uddevalla in 1962. He was fourteen, for God's sake. He was there at the murder of Sara in 1964 and that time he took an active part. He was sixteen."
"And?"
"He said that he had never touched another man - except his father. That made me think that... well, the only possible conclusion is that this father raped him. Martin called it 'his duty.' The sexual assaults must have gone on for a long time. He was raised by his father, so to speak."
"Bullshit," Salander said, her voice as hard as flint.
Blomkvist stared at her in astonishment. She had a stubborn look in her eyes. There was not an ounce of sympathy in it.
"Martin had exactly the same opportunity as anyone else to strike back. He killed and he raped because he liked doing it."
"I'm not saying otherwise. But Martin was a repressed boy and under the influence of his father, just as Gottfried was cowed by his father, the Nazi."
"So you're assuming that Martin had no will of his own and that people become whatever they've been brought up to be."
Blomkvist smiled cautiously. "Is this a sensitive issue?"
Salander's eyes blazed with fury. Blomkvist quickly went on.
"I'm only saying that I think that a person's upbringing does play a role. Gottfried's father beat him mercilessly for years. That leaves its mark."
"Bullshit," Salander said again. "Gottfried isn't the only kid who was ever mistreated. That doesn't give him the right to murder women. He made that choice himself. And the same is true of Martin."
Blomkvist held up his hand.
"Can we not argue?"
"I'm not arguing. I just think that it's pathetic that creeps always have to have someone else to blame."
Brilliant.
oxo,
Lex
