Evil & non-Random Acts of Violence at The Navy Yard

Without knowing the specific motivations behind today’s shooting rampage at The Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., it would not be unreasonable to characterize this tragic event as both evil and non-random. When innocent life is taken — as it was today — our culture, including our nation’s leaders, dare not shy away from labeling this mass murder for what it truly is — EVIL! Whether we like it or not and whether we want to acknowledge it or not, evil continues to be a potent force in the world today. Even if you do not believe in a literal Satan or demonic influence, it would be hard to deny the unspeakable evil that takes place today, most of which we do not see — or choose not to see — unless and until it makes its presence known in ways that cannot be ignored or wished away.

A famous maxim, often attributed to Sir Edmund Burke, says that “all it takes for evil to succeed is for a few good men to do nothing…” My, how that maxim holds true in our own day. Evil is succeeding like never before. It seems that we are reminded of this sobering fact more often than ever. It’s only been a few months since our last round of spectacularly evil events took place:

How can a member of any civilized society — much less a medical doctor — do what is alleged in this case?

NBC-10 Philadelphia reported that, Stephen Massof, a former Gosnell worker, “described how he snipped the spinal cords of babies, calling it, ‘literally a beheading. It is separating the brain from the body.” One former worker, Adrienne Moton, testified that Gosnell taught her his “snipping” technique to use on infants born alive.”

I suppose the same kind of question can be asked in the wake of the Boston Marathon terrorist attack on Patriots’ Day: How can someone plant and detonate bombs with the intent to maim and kill as many innocent bystanders as possible? The answer to both questions comes down to one word — EVIL! There can be no other way to describe the heinous, wicked acts that took place in Boston on Monday or the truly vile, disgusting, heart-wrenching murders of babies born alive in Kermit Gosnell’s abortion mill.

Evil ùdo”Ý*ed by the evil that confronts our society, we should not be surprised by it. Even though some try to deny, excuse, or ignore that evil exists (see the lack of coverage of the Gosnell trial by the mainstream media for evidence of the latter), America will cease to be a civilized culture if the majority of our citizens turn a blind eye to atrocities committed, not just be terrorists, but by doctors who inch ever closer to infanticide. Surely even my liberal, pro-abortion (or pro-choice, if you prefer) friends can understand that killing babies born alive cannot be condoned in any way, shape, or form if we want to remain a nation committed to the ideal, “with liberty and justice for all.”

Evil, in all its various forms, will take root and spring up like a vile weed, infesting an otherwise beautiful garden. It takes much vigilance to prevent the weeds from taking over. Complacency, inattention, and apathy are the fertilizer that allows evil to grow at an alarming rate. Is it too early to sound the alarm? Is it already too late? Do good men and women dare to speak? Do our actions — or lack thereof — speak louder than words? (“Boston Terrorists, Philly Abortionists & the Evil Among U!”)

As easily as we might label today’s shooting at The Navy Yard as an act of evil, it could just as easily be labeled as non-random. As of now, there is no known motivation for this horrific act, carried out by at least one and, perhaps two shooters. It is far too early to conclude whether or not today’s mass killing can be linked to terrorism. Statements by government officials or journalists to the contrary should be summarily dismissed as nothing more than speculation, particularly when a second gunman may be at large. In the wake of the Boston Marathon Bombings, it would behoove all involved — most especially the Department of Homeland Security — to keep their mouths shut as to any possibly ties to terrorism. As Mark Twain once said, “It’s better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt.”

However, just because one concludes that this act — like the D.C. Sniper case, Ft. Hood, and the Boston Marathon Bombings — was a “random act of violence” does not mean that there was “no specific pattern, purpose, or objective” behind the event. While many (including me) would not be shocked to find a link between radical Islam and The Navy Yard shooting similar to that of the three aforementioned cases, there is already a “specific pattern, purpose, or objective”in what we have witnessed and what we will continue to witness. It is part of a scheme far grander than anything that the most sophisticated Jihadist could ever carry out.

Make no mistake. These murders are all part of a calculated scheme being carried out by the master schemer himself, Satan or the Devil. He is the enemy of mankind and all that is good. He has been a murderer and liar from the very beginning (John 8:44). His specific pattern, purpose, and objective is to “steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10) He seems to be doing a pretty good job. Although the motives behind The Navy Yard shootings remain murky at the moment, one thing remains crystal clear — non-random acts of violence will only get worse because the “days are evil!”

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