History and personal experience both show that although humanity as a whole is not evil, every man is to some degree corrupt. Every man is born with flaws that are an inherent part of his mortal nature. Although these flaws may change in time and in manifestation they never entirely fade away. Every man chooses what to do with the personality given him, but even making mostly good choices doesn't make him, in the most perfect sense, good. This is written into society's core.
No man has ever achieved perfection, either of sin or of virtue. This proves two things: man is not by nature evil, but he is not either by nature good. Everybody does good things which an evil man would not do, and everybody does evil things which a good man would not do. Nothing has the tendency towards that which is its opposite in nature. Therefore, if we were by nature good or evil we would only do those things which are good or evil.
This is also illustrated by the existence of laws that men put into effect. We make rules to keep us from doing wrong, with punishments put into place to give further incentive away from breaking these rules. If men were inherently good then we wouldn't even imagine a need for these laws. Why would a good people need to be encouraged not to do bad things? Why would there be codes against theft, rape, murder, and other crimes? The making of a society tells much about the people who are a part of that society. Since every group of people has these laws, it is reasonable to assume that all people are in some way inclined to do evil, even though the making of these laws also shows that we care about doing good.
The choices people make reveal who they are. At every moment we gave the opportunity to decide what to do, and thus choose who we are. We are constantly shaped by the decisions we make rather than by our nature. It isn't the result of blind fate. Because it is impossible to deny that we are free to choose, it is impossible to say that we are inherently good or evil. Every man's nature is inclined simply towards what he chooses at any moment.
So, are men inherently good? No. Humanity is sadly flawed. However, that doesn't mean that man is doomed to villainy. What this means is that every man and every woman can always change and improve and throw off old patterns and the old nature. We choose our own fate. We choose our own doom. We choose our own destiny.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
When Jokes Go Wrong
As I have grown up I have become a much more relaxed person in general (as hard as that might be for some of you to believe). But some things I still get so incredibly angry about, and among these things are jokes.
Friends, any attempt to be humorous through degrading and bringing down others is going to fail. Making fun of and grossly dehumanizing Muslims is not charming and witty, but wrong. Mocking men and trying to generalize them into one super gross and helpless group is wrong. Being sarcastic and making somebody else feel little for the sake of a laugh is, once again, wrong.
Excusing blatant arrogance, ignorance, and bigotry under the guise of joking is despicable and reveals nothing other than a small mind and weak character. Sometimes it happens, because everybody is imperfect and we are in fact all small and weak in some ways. But please, refrain from this. Because I know you're better than that. You can be funny and express your views while being kind and actually trying to think through issues like an intelligent human being instead of somebody who is so threatened by differences that you have to resort to crude attempts at jokes to make yourself feel better. Be better.
Friends, any attempt to be humorous through degrading and bringing down others is going to fail. Making fun of and grossly dehumanizing Muslims is not charming and witty, but wrong. Mocking men and trying to generalize them into one super gross and helpless group is wrong. Being sarcastic and making somebody else feel little for the sake of a laugh is, once again, wrong.
Excusing blatant arrogance, ignorance, and bigotry under the guise of joking is despicable and reveals nothing other than a small mind and weak character. Sometimes it happens, because everybody is imperfect and we are in fact all small and weak in some ways. But please, refrain from this. Because I know you're better than that. You can be funny and express your views while being kind and actually trying to think through issues like an intelligent human being instead of somebody who is so threatened by differences that you have to resort to crude attempts at jokes to make yourself feel better. Be better.
Friday, October 16, 2015
It seems like every day I learn more and there is more conflict between my ideals and my reality.
I would love to believe that statesmen must always hold true and firm to their own personal moral code and stubbornly refuse to give in even one little bit to anything less than shining. But they can't. And they shouldn't.
I would like to believe that everybody can and will cheerfully overcome anything if just given a chance and some encouragement. But they won't. Because not everything is black and white and life isn't a movie where everything ends up happy and all it takes is a little song to make everything better.
I want to know that I can be friends with everyone, and that I can be a support and a help for everyone I meet. But that doesn't happen. Because sometimes people don't like me and other times I simply don't rise up to be a goddess of love and perfection and beauty who shines radiantly upon the whole earth.
I have always believed that there is one way to approach life and that that way is the one I particularly subscribe to. But I know better. There are so many ways and views towards life and I am just one lonely human being trying my best to figure it out.
Things change. I find myself saddened by how much I have changed. But it is a part of growing up and I would not wish to go back to the way I used to view things. Because I want to see things as they are, not as I would like them to be.
I would love to believe that statesmen must always hold true and firm to their own personal moral code and stubbornly refuse to give in even one little bit to anything less than shining. But they can't. And they shouldn't.
I would like to believe that everybody can and will cheerfully overcome anything if just given a chance and some encouragement. But they won't. Because not everything is black and white and life isn't a movie where everything ends up happy and all it takes is a little song to make everything better.
I want to know that I can be friends with everyone, and that I can be a support and a help for everyone I meet. But that doesn't happen. Because sometimes people don't like me and other times I simply don't rise up to be a goddess of love and perfection and beauty who shines radiantly upon the whole earth.
I have always believed that there is one way to approach life and that that way is the one I particularly subscribe to. But I know better. There are so many ways and views towards life and I am just one lonely human being trying my best to figure it out.
Things change. I find myself saddened by how much I have changed. But it is a part of growing up and I would not wish to go back to the way I used to view things. Because I want to see things as they are, not as I would like them to be.
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