evil people

Huh, this morning as l reflect, evil comes to mind. I am reading a series of books about America's west in the pioneering days. As gold seekers, traders & others spread west onto the traditional hunting grounds of many native tribes, conflict escalated. Its evident a series of self aggrandising leaders within the US Cavalry were quick to ask for peace from hostilities by the native warriors & promised land, safety & supplies on the form of treaties. These treaties were not honoured & mamy massacres occurred as they attacked native settlements. These men invariably dehumanized native peoples, as savage, heathens or barbarians. The language common to all evil men waging war, even as we sit. 

 

Last year I had the misfortune to provide care of an eleven  year old boy. He was related on a round about way, & l am aware that his parents were "shady characters"; drug taking, lying, assaulting & thieving against family, friends & others. As a social worker I am well aware of the attitude to explain the behaviours of children as a reflection of their parents. However, in this case the child had spent little time with his parents, yet stole from every person, on every nool & cranny in my house. His explanation was a deadpan, "its what I do. I always have". No guilt, no shame, no apology, ever. He changed my understanding of humankind. 

Yesterday, thinking about evil people l recalled a rumour about two heinous killers being related & set to google to fond out. 

Indeed, I discovered the Katherine Knight was indeed related to James Roughan & Patrick Roughan. Aunty Katherine is currently serving life imprisonment for murdering her husband, stabbing him 36 times, removing his skin & hanging it from a hook in the kitchen & was discovered by police cooking his head to feed to his children.  It was not an impulsive act for ain't Katherine, who described her job as a boner in an abattoir as her " dream job" & hung her boning tools above her bed "in case [she] needs to use them".

Young James, & a friend also murdered & stabbed a fellow. They stabbed him 133 times, also cutting off his head & as James' accomplice later repprted, he was disgusted as James kicked the head around as if playing soccer. 

Patrick Roughan, brother to Katherine, father of James, is the one I met. I would describe him as a hard man. Not in the stereotypical muscular, outspoken alpha male type, more a fellow that seemed to seeth at everyone & to be holding back his contempt at all times. Let's say, being pleasant, having a laugh or shooting the breeze, was beyond his capabilities. I learned yesterday that he had stood accused of raping a child, but the allegations proved to be false. 

To widen the focus to consider those that are perhaps corrupted by authority & how they outstrip others for evil. Consider the priest, who gravitates towards the moral profession, who studies the bible & earns a living preaching goodness & then continually goes forth to exploit, molest & rape women & children. Or the politician or official who enters  public service to gain access to wealth, fame & power over decision making & who abuses that for personal gain. 

So, now as I go forth in life, no longer am I the grinning humanist.