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Sri Sri Radovan Karadzic
He was hiding behind an enormous beard, white ponytailed hair topped with an odd black tuft, and a new life so at odds with his myth as to deflect suspicion.(...) The fatigues-wearing leader of the Bosnian Serbs was unrecognizable in a guise that was part guru and part Santa Claus. IHT
G.K. Chesterton said, people who don't believe in anything end up believing in everything. This is a fairly good description of much of the New Agers. You know, one week it's yoga, next week reiki, week after that shiatsu or ayaguasca.
That's why I laughed out loud when I read that Radovan Karadzic, the Bosnian Serb's answer to Dr. Mengele, had disguised himself as a guru and nobody around him ever caught on... No flies on this mass murderer. A perfect disguise.
There are no surroundings imaginable that are as uncritical or less "judgmental": where intense and skeptical scrutiny is more discouraged, than the ones "Dr Dabic" immersed himself in. No safer place for a cynic to hide.
Taking a cue from the article above, I sought out Karadzic's web page (BTW, how many mass murderers do you know that have their own web page?)
Now, my opinion of Radovan Karadzic, up till now, has been simply what I had read in the papers and online when he was doing his mass killing: impersonal reprobation, and a special dislike of his old haircut.
However, just a moment ago on visiting his web page, I came across this collection of "Dr Dabic's Favorite Chinese Proverbs", in English, and they really gave me the creeps. Here is the lot:
10 favorite ancient Chinese proverbs as selected personally by Dr. Dabic:That last one makes you believe in the devil, doesn't it?
* Behind every able man, there are always other able men.
* Teacher opens the door, but you must enter by yourself.
* A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows the public opinion.
* He who cannot agree with his enemies is controlled by them.
* If your strength is small, don't carry heavy burdens. If your words are worthless, don't give advice.
* A flawed diamond is better than a common stone that is perfect.
* Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.
* If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, teach people.
* You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.
* The one who gives up his own, should dig two graves.
Even the devil can quote scripture.
And what murderous, self-regarding, inhuman vanity hides behind, "A flawed diamond is better than a common stone that is perfect?"
Every proverb in the list is filled with sinister nudges and winks.
How he must of cackled to himself when lecturing to his rapt audiences.
If I ever thought that Karadzic was simply part of Hanna Arendt's "banality of evil"; just another gray, Eichmann-like brick in the wall of the 20th century's mass produced savagery, it disappeared when confronted with Dr Dabic's insolent narcisism.
They say that Karadzic has asked his jailers for a shave and a haircut.
When the barber has finished, that will be the end of the Dr Dabic incarnation. Requiscat in Pace.
http://seaton-newslinks.blogspot.com/
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Comments (10)
Great blog, David. Very inciteful.
July 24, 2008 6:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, BTW, I discovered another mass murderer with his own web page. Here it is.
July 24, 2008 8:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
LOL! Harsh, but funny :)
Now on to the chinese proverbs. There are a couple there I've always been fond of, but a little distressed that Karadzic co-opted them.
I personally always liked the flawed diamond one when used appropriately. The other two I like -the teacher proverb and the learning proverb always appealed to me. Hmm does this make me evil?
July 24, 2008 8:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
I speaking of your link to another mass murders web site, not your post, as to being funny (true also)
July 24, 2008 8:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Read all of the proverbs in the key of a fugitive ethnic cleanser. Then I think you'll see what I mean.
July 24, 2008 9:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
David I got it, my response was a bit smart ass :) A fault for which I am getting counseling.
July 24, 2008 9:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
True. His has as much blood on his hands as any and more than most. Way more than Karadzic, if not as hands-on. Here's a site for what seem a peculiarly American set of monsters.
July 24, 2008 9:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Freudian typo? David does like to incite.
July 24, 2008 9:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rosa Brooks has a different take on Karadzic, with psychological research showing how easily we fool ourselves.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-brooks24-2008jul24,0,5139430.column
July 24, 2008 9:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think Rosa Brooks is missing a point here.
I think Karadzic is more in the "Hitler was a vegan" type of thing.
July 24, 2008 9:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
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