Oh, no you did NOT...

Like many people before me, I sometimes say things that leave me wishing I could slow down time and retract the words before they reach anyone's ears. Sometimes, though, you need to say whatever it is.

Recently a couple of people in our department were discussing the right to plead insanity in criminal cases, and one of them was of the opinion that the whole notion of pleading insanity is invalid and should be abolished. Fair point, where exactly do you draw the line? Is everyone who commits atrocities insane, and therefore excusable? 


But then this person went on to say that people with mental illnesses and those prone to fits of rage should be excluded from society and locked up, not even allowed for a walk in the park. This immediately made me think of Nazi Germany, where people were locked up and used in horrific experiments just because they were ill, twins, of a certain ethnicity, basically just not 'normal'. Of course I pointed out to this person that what they were saying was beginning to sound like said Nazi Germany policies, to which the person in question snapped.

I should point out that this person is in fact Jewish and very defensive - which is fine, whatever. But I think they thought I was suggesting they were Nazis or something? Another point of interest would be that not long ago the issue of national identity came up and the conversation came around to being rejected as an Australian because of religion (I'm Muslim), and this person was like, 'Yeah but that's just for the minority of people, it's not like all Muslims are terrorists, 90% are normal, only a minority have anything wrong with them, like only 2% of Muslims.'

Oh. Snap. 

Anyway the point is this person was offended that I pointed out that their suggestions for dealing with ill people is reminiscent of Nazi policy and maybe they should be careful of what they say. And of course this person did the easiest thing and discussed their problem. Not. The whole thing seems a lot worse because I'm Muslim and this person is Jewish. I don't understand why I can't say something and be judged because of what I've said, not because I'm Muslim and I've said it. And which part of what I said was wrong? Is it wrong to disagree with someone because they've said something tactless?

Fact of the matter is, I am not equipped to deal with headstrong people, given that I'm very opinionated myself. A nicer person could have dealt with it better, but again, I'm not quite there yet. Wonder how long it'll take to blow over?

Peace and love,

S.