BEYOND THE PALE

 Of late I have been hearing people toss this term around and I wondered if they even knew the origin of the term and the morphing it did to evolve into what it is today. In its overuse, however, its sting has been numbed, has become almost meaningless, a   phrase without punch, a convenient go to term to express opposition to behavior or words. It is sad, as its true connotation has been lost - at a time when it is most needed indeed. 

A pale, no capital yet, is a kind of wooden fencing, a term used in the 14th century by the British and the Irish. It was used to fence off the 'bad' from others, thus beginning its journey to the 18th century into the 20th century, usage and meaning. A usage, an implication, an 'inspiration' to evil minds as they acted with it, from it. Therein lies the seed of its most destructive phrase. That phrase is weakened in impact through its overuse, unexplained and unknown of origin, a yawn instead of a scream.

In the late 18th century, the Pale now capitalized, grew in interpretation and usage. It became a notorious term delineating the life, the eternal damned desire to make use of the Jewish people even as they became more constricted and restricted in places to live and survive, mostly to a hand to mouth life with death always there, in the air, in the blood spilled, in the permanent terror that lived in the hearts and minds. Eventually the horror grew, leading to mass emigration to the United States and other western countries. Unfortunately, the vicious viral hatred went right along as well. Peaking most terribly in the years 1933-1945. a Holocaust now denied by a growing mass of antisemitic easily led people who can now freely indulge, wallow in, their hatred, in the venom spewed forth from ugly mouths.

Today, almost every politician has that phrase, uncapitalized pale, as a go to term used to express strong disapproval and distancing. However, the constant war between 'walk and talk' is present and center, most often showcasing sheer hypocrisy, egregious to the nth degree, diluting, polluting, weakening its important historical meaning and implications for the future of humanity.

When caught out in the open, these hate proliferating worst specimens of humankind try to wimp out, labeling name calling by 'outsiders' as beyond the pale even as they are the main purveyors of this virulent talk and even the walk, by others who act out their hatred with the implicit, even explicit, approval and urging of these most awful 'leaders' who then call that action beyond the pale. Its current meaning and usage weaken its historical imperative, most unfortunately. 

A lawyer of Trump caught with her hand in the cookie jar, mouthing off with some bad statements, now maintains that "people were a bit confused". Ya' think! However, she allowed thoughts of greed, of power, of fame, whatever floated her boat, along with others in the same mass of 'confused' people, to take her along the path better avoided, perhaps a 'pale' area.

All this and more has led to a time of evil, when evil is either not recognized as such, or worse, is known and meant to be evil, is so visibly "Beyond the Pale" in every sense and degree of the phrase. Simply put, it is evil personified, welcomed making a return from evil, a denying of the temptations of evil most difficult to expunge from one's heart, soul, and arms.

A famous Jewish Italian writer, Natalia Ginzburg, wrote in an essay, that "Once the experience of evil has been endured, it is never forgotten." 

How so awfully sad and true.

Please note that there will be no posting tomorrow as it is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonements". It isa time when soul examining by all, particularly during these turbulent times, is a truly good idea.

I wish all a Sweet New Year, filled with health, happiness, prosperity and most of all- Peace.