43) Marquis de Sade

With every dark time in humanity, there is always a darker person willing to push the limits on societal evil. Whether it is mass murder, the invention of more devious torture devices, or the easier violation of ethics, someone in every century is there to break bounds.

Of course, there are the majority who call these people heretics, while the solemn few are brave enough to call these people heroes, pioneers of their time.

People call the Marquis de Sade a genius, only because he was the most innovative sexual deviant of his time. Unrestrained by religion, law, or morality, his collective thirty-two years in insane asylums can attest to the fact that his 120 Days of Sodom is still widely unparalleled in terms of brutality and violence.

The lasting legacy of the Marquis? We derive the word "sadism" from his name.

But whether you're the biggest pervert of the eighteenth century, or just a small time Issei Sagawa, the barriers of evil continue to be broken.

Just early today before this post, Ronnie Lee Gardner was executed by firing squad for his crimes on 12:20:25 a.m. MDT. Many believe death by firing squad falls under the cruel and unusual punishments clause in the eighth amendment of the United States Constitution.

The worst part? Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff advertised the death with updates on Twitter, stating when he gave the order to kill and where to watch his live press conference afterward. As Mashable puts it: "A Tweet Too Far?"

But the real focus of this post, the real shocker, lies in a pediatric urologist at Cornell: Dix Poppas. He "specializes" in female genital cutting.

The original post at the bioethics forum starts off by introducing a comparative story: Tuskegee airmen who did not receive medication for their syphilis for four decades. This is to emphasize the dehumanizing, scientized language of modern medicine of what Martha Solomon says: “can obscure and deemphasize any ethical, non-scientific perspective.”

But back to Poppas. What exactly does he do? First of all, he operates on little girls. Girls that are no older than six years old. He cuts their "oversized" clitorises, then stitches up the glans for the purpose of "nerve sparing." It's for sensitivity issues.

Alice Dreger and Ellen K. Feder from the original article elaborates:

Here more specifically is, apparently, what is happening: At annual visits after the surgery, while a parent watches, Poppas touches the daughter’s surgically shortened clitoris with a cotton-tip applicator and/or with a “vibratory device,” and the girl is asked to report to Poppas how strongly she feels him touching her clitoris. Using the vibrator, he also touches her on her inner thigh, her labia minora, and the introitus of her vagina, asking her to report, on a scale of 0 (no sensation) to 5 (maximum), how strongly she feels the touch. Yang, Felsen, and Poppas also report a “capillary perfusion testing,” which means a physician or nurse pushes a finger nail on the girl’s clitoris to see if the blood goes away and comes back, a sign of healthy tissue. Poppas has indicated in this article and elsewhere that ideally he seeks to conduct annual exams with these girls. He intends to chart the development of their sexual sensation over time.

And as if that wasn't enough:

Many have told us that the genital displays involved in the follow-up exams were more traumatic than any other part of the experience. Indeed, when I once asked a group of women with androgen insensitivity syndrome what they wanted me to work on primarily in my advocacy work, they said stopping the exams, particularly those in which med students, residents, and fellows parade through to check out the surgeon's handiwork.

So not only does the dear doctor get away with it, he also lets other people watch. Might as well start cutting off every male penis and stitch up those results.

All in the name of science? Perhaps, but it's clear that Poppas does not understand the damage he's doing to these girls. Is it some sick sexual perversion he possess? I don't know.

Just remember that when you sleep tonight, someone, somewhere, is eager to prove humanity's inner evil.

30) The Spring Break Rant

This week, we discuss the imperialist ipad, troubles with Pope Benedict the 16th, hate on the American School System as described by John Taylor Gatto (again), and see the legitimate fears of people and American politics.

This one's a long one folks, so strap in and listen:

29) Red Vs. White Vs. Blue

I've always tried to shy away from political discussions, for the fear of reprimand and criticism. However, I feel that recent events have forced my hand. This is no longer an issue that can be avoided.

With the media converging on the Obama administration and their intentions, something darker has been revealed to exist in the heart of the American government and its people. As Democrats and Republicans fight it out, many cannot predict the catastrophes that await this country. The fates of many lie in the hands of the distinguished few.

With the recent approval of Obama's health care plan, it seems only logical that the Democrats have successfully solidified their place as majority power-holders in the Senate. This victory comes as a certificate of achievement that reflects upon the supporters of Obama's plan of change for the United States. It is, after all, "Change we can believe in."

It's only natural that the residing president's political party has a strong say in the government. After all, the president is always the center of activity, and is the main focal point for the masses of America.

The victory comes at a price.

I was more disappointed than shocked when I saw this article spring up. House Democrats were threatened due to their actions concerning the approval of the health care plan. As Democratic House of Representatives majority Leader Steny Hoyer puts it:

“Democracy can’t survive unless we can have a civil society in which debate is open and free and unfettered."

This isn't the first incidence of tempers flaring, but it certainly appears to indicate a breaking point. Racial epithets and shoutings of "Baby Killer" have captured the attention of the media.

Clearly, a government cannot be run effectively if arguments are to transpire at every possible turn. Although debates are encouraged to gain perspective on issues, the concept becomes disgraced when actual threats of violence occur.

The root of all this? The reasons are debatable (Ha Ha), but a plausible explanation is the way people are being represented. Many tapings of town hall meetings show disgruntled, furious, and passionate voters, all who have legitimate opinions and suggestions. But when their ideas can do so little in this democratic America, it is easy to understand their desperate actions of hate and frustration.

More and more, especially for the younger generation, protesting and writing your senators doesn't seem to be enough anymore. As the United States stumbles further down the road to ruin, optimists insist that things will change for the better. Pessimists (like me), say that more radical change is required.

What really worries me is the growing division between the public and their representatives. It might be just me, but I feel that the ideas of the general consensus regarding important issues differs greatly than what our leaders are aspiring to do. The American people are feeling more helpless than ever, especially when they have no job, no home, or no money. If they feel they have no say in the government, it'll be the final straw.

As the representatives instigate change to push along their personal agendas, people will either agree or disagree. For those that disagree, I can only hope they do not resort to desperate measures.

The current health care debate is long from being resolved. More pressing and controversial issues will no doubt appear within the next few months. We will soon see the value of everyday opinions regarding general change that a majority will be satisfied with.

As for me, I hope that I won't ever have to reach for my gun rather than my pen and pad to have my opinions heard. That would be a shame.