Viniegra, Caren Q.

4LM2
2013-055875 22 September 2016

The Fine Line Between Good and Evil

It is indeed true that humans may be pillars of altruism, where they are able to exhibit
dumbfounding kindness toward people. People would actually tear organs from their own for
the welfare of another. However, we cannot deny the fact that humans may be the complete
opposite of this, for humans are very much capable to become means for the destruction of the
core of humanity and morality.
This is very evident to our society today. I have always pondered on what must it feel
like to live in places that are in current state of war. Not that I wish to experience it, but I couldnt
quite understand or figure out how to express empathy towards these people. Will it just be mere
sharing of Facebook posts of Pray for Syria, Pray for Orlando, or even Pray for France
posters? Is that real empathy? The other side of the world is at chaos, whilst we, on the other
side, remain and go on with our day-to-day lives.
But the real question is, why do people turn bad? Or are people innately evil? Does the
notion of the other contribute to the factors towards who is shunned, and who is protected?
Some people may say that morality is innate within people. Children would know what is right
and what is wrongthe difference between morality and merely imposed rules that may be
lifted. Barrack Obama had recently recited a letter sent to him by a 6-year-old boy named Alex in
a Leaders Summit. Alex said that he had seen a heartbreaking image of Omran, a 5-year-old victim
of the current war at Syria, trying to wipe the blood from his face in an ambulance. Alex said that
Omran may live with his family, and that he will share his bike since he cannot bring his toys
and will teach him addition and subtraction. And more importantly, Alex said that they will give
Omran a family and treat him as a brother. The mere humanity the child can display: innocent,
and free from being cynical and suspicious with other people, poses the question of what are the
reasons behind the corruption of this pure human hearts to become man-slaughtering creatures?
 The question remains unanswered for studies arent able to pinpoint these lapses within
the human behavior. It is true that our opposable thumbs and big brains gave us the opportunity
to dominate the world, but wisdom comes more slowly than physical hardware. We are far from
the threshold of becoming truly civilized, with all the gruesome and heartbreaking events which
has happened to the past, currently happening, and which has yet to come. We must become
instruments of peace to revolutionize ourselves and become instruments of peace.