Just finished reading How Evil Works: Understanding and Overcoming the Destructive Forces That Are Transforming America by David Kupelian. Kupelian is not a philosopher or a theologian but an in-the-trenches journalist with a first hand understanding of the power of the media. In my humble opinion, everyone who takes an interest in what is going on in our world should read this book, and especially the last chapter titled Turning the Tables on Evil in America. Oh, you didn’t know that evil is alive and abroad in America? You’ll certainly believe it after reading Kupelian!

Kupelian’s book is so full of wise and pithy sentences that I hesitate to try to summarize it.  Rather, I think I might take it chapter by chapter, choose a representative quote,  and let it go at that.

I.  In Government We Trust: Why We Elect Liars as Leaders.

Power-hungry demagogues have always used basically the same methods:  they demonize “the rich,” claiming they obtained their wealth by exploiting and stealing from the downtrodden; they stir up racial or tribal hatreds at every opportunity; they blame convenient scapegoats for problems they themselves have caused; and they promise universal peace and happiness if we’ll just give them unlimited power over us.

II. Sexual Anarchy:  What’s Behind Today’s Epidemic of Teacher-Student Sex?

…a ghoulish smorgasbord of sexually transmitted diseases — many incurable such as AIDS, herpes, and human papilloma virus (thought to be one of the main causes of cervical cancer), as well as hepatitis, syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and a host of others — is a pretty powerful indicator that we weren’t meant to have wanton, rampant sex.

III. How Terrorism Really Works: The Ultimate Stockholm Syndrome.

Remember, moral weakness–appeasement–whether in individuals or nation-states, always encourages violence.  Just as with communists and Nazis, today’s Islamofascists regard goodwill gestures and concessions as contemptible weakness and an irresistible invitation to take advantage.  Hitler, shortly after the appeasing Neville Chamberlain arrived home proudly displaying his worthless “peace agreement, ” turned around
and attacked Britain.

IV: The Secret Curse of Celebrity: Understanding Today’s Rampant Narcissism.

As a young person I was known primarily as an accomplished classical violinist….Here’s the problem. As happens with many performers, I became accustomed to the admiration of others. But when you live for appreciation and applause, that motivation doesn’t cease when you leave the stage. All of life becomes a stage and you’re constantly performing to elicit a positive response from everyone else.

V. Doctors, Drugs and Demons: Why So Many Americans Are Labeled “Mentally Ill.”

Before going further, let’s state the obvious: sometimes psychiatric drugs, including antidepressants, are helpful, even necessary. But in the overwhelming majority of cases, of which there are tens of millions in the United States alone, these dangerous substances are recklessly being relied upon to solve Americans’ mental-emotional-spiritual problems.

VI: False Gods: What’s Behind the Popularity of Paganism, Witchcraft, and New Age Religions?

Enough, already. There are ten chapters in all, each one making sense and carefully annotated. The last ties it all together and, to my mind, is the best of all. Recommended.

One week ago I had Mohs skin surgery for a small skin thickening below my left eye which had been diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma. The first night after the surgery I had swelling and throbbing and pain (treated with one acetominophen tablet) and 24 hours after the surgery I removed the pressure bandage. Each day thereafter for a week the wound was gently washed twice a day, covered with Vaseline, and bandage re-applied. Though tender to touch there was no pain but it was annoying to look down my nose and see that bandage sitting there and it was close enough to my eye to make using my eyeglasses awkward.

I returned to the office seven days later for removal of the stitches. Stitch removal was done by a nurse and hardly hurt at all. The doctor checked the wound which she described as a little puffy, which should go away, but good overall. I can now do away with the bandage but am supposed to apply Vaseline for another week. An appointment was made for the end of January, 2012, for Mohs skin micrographic surgery on my second lesion on the left side of my nose.

I will try to post a picture, with a little help from my friend.  Behold – this is 10 days after surgery, in natural daylight, no make-up.    The wound is under my left eye (which is the right side of the photo).

The suspected melanoma under one of my toenails (which was what brought me to the dermatologist in the first place) seems to be growing out, which means it is just a hematoma and quite benign. We will keep it under surveillance.

I plan to post the bill for this minor surgical adventure. Won’t that be interesting?

January, 2012 – The Medicare assessment has arrived.  I had only Medicare, no supplemental insurance.