To the Universe: I'm sorry I helped hate.

Earlier this month, I posted "How Folks are Finding This Site." One of the odd things you might notice in that list is the number one search term: oracle logo. Those folks are finding this page, where I display how I would redesign the Oracle Corporation's logo if they were to ever ask me to. Some form of this search has been near the top of the list for months.

Late Wednesday night, I received an odd email. The man asked if I knew which font the Oracle logo was set in (the original, not mine). He also asked, if Oracle's logo was designed specifically for them and no such font exists, if I was willing to "reverse engineer" their logo and set another word in similar type. He said he was willing to pay for the time.

It seemed sketchy to me. The email was sent from a Yahoo account. The man's name was "Peter Parker" (though I'm sure unsolicited emails from "Arlo Guthrie" elicit the same suspicion). And what he was asking me could be in most circumstances copyright infringement.

So, despite the relative simplicity of what he was asking me to do, I decided to refuse the offer. He had mentioned in his email that he had some experience working with hand-stripping type in the early 80s but wasn't versed in using Illustrator. When I emailed him back saying I didn't have time for any extra freelance work, I suggested he download a vector version of Oracle's logo from Brands of the World, print a few copies large, and collage his own letters. Then, he could have that scanned and printed in whatever colors he wanted.

I felt like I had done the right thing. Refused in order to protect my ass, but gave him an option should his motivation be just.

His motivation was certainly unjust.

He emailed be back thanking me for my help. He also gave me this link: Ora*fraud. So I started reading the home page. Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle, committed some sort of fraud? Interesting. Ken Lay should be locked up in a maximum security, pound-me-in-the-ass prison for what he did. Does Larry Ellison deserve the same treatment? My curiosity was piqued. I clicked the "continue reading" link.

Here's what I found on page 2:

Remaining to be answered is the question of why the Jewish people, as a group, seem to protect - even venerate - their criminals ... instead of prosecuting them.

And more:

When we combine the aforementioned Oracle Corporation, - with its legendary contempt for the rule of law - with this aforementioned political cult - with its legendary contempt for anyone whom is not a Zionist - we get a formula for trouble. And that's exactly what happened.

I'm so thankful that I avoided helping an anti-Semite decorate his website advocating a vast Zionist conspiracy.

However, I can't help but feel guilty. Sure, all I did was give someone a link and an idea, but I still enabled the motivations of someone spreading hate.

Of course, none of us can help on a daily basis from supporting evil. I have no doubt that the office building I'm sitting in right now is chock full of manufactured goods built in countries with unfair labor practices. Hell, I'm paying taxes for an unjust war. Unless we want to move to the mountains and live off of what we grow, we can't help but inadvertently support what we despise.

Never, though, has it been so direct for me. I literally felt nauseous. Still do when I think about it. I simply want the forces of karma (should such a thing exist) to understand that I meant no harm. Next time, I'll ask, "Who are you?" before proceeding.