<We disagree on (at least) one very important point: you don't believe in fundamental innocence and I do. I see an inherent danger in the idea that those who suffer as a result of injustice, cruelty or perversion have somehow done something in a past life to deserve it. If they suffer because of their past behavior, then this is no more than justice, and those of us who witness it can feel free to be less constrained to stop the suffering or heal the resulting injuries. This thought is fingernails scraped across my psychic chalkboard...

Totally agree with you on this position. Ayn Rand covered a lot of the same territory in her tirades against the concept of "Original Sin." Still, like many religions, such a philosophy probably brings great comfort to many who can't get past the basic law of the universe that Shit Happens.

I too hesitate to speak too harshly of Huns. Given my Eastern European heritage, I dare say at least a few of these raping and pillaging folks figure in my ancestry. ;)