Evil is the other side of human nature. The duality of good and evil inside each person:
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When a heinous crime is committed, what do you think? Do you think the perpetrator was somehow influenced by evil? Some external force exerting an uncontrollable rage of reckless blood lust? Did some demonic form take over? Did the criminal inflict tortuous death on an innocent person because of malevolent forces? Some criminals will suggest that somehow something came over them. As a result, they “lost control of it” and destroy a life. What is it and where did it come from? These are interesting notions regarding a nebulous concept of human nature. One far more complex than simply “looking” inside the criminal mind. In short, evil is human nature at its worst form of behavior. Evil is in the cerebral realm of the owner, or the “eye” of the beholder. Dark, dangerous and deadly things lurk inside each of us. And, there’s no way of knowing for sure what’s really behind the masks we wear. Holy virtues are in combat with unholy sins. Mental warfare goes on inside our thoughts. We hide them very well. Everyone has some. No one wants to admit it. But, down deep, inside the dark recesses of every human mental landscape, evil resides. It’s the Cain and Abel, the Jekyll and Hyde, we all attempt to control. Now, you’ll never get everyone to be perfectly honest, straightforward or completely revealing about themselves.
We always conceal, hide and cover up the reality of who we are. Our thinking and modes of expressiveness are the tip of the iceberg of human proclivities. People wear disguises, cloak their intentions and mask their feelings. Sometimes, some people let out the demons. Others control them. Legions of thoughts, ideas and fantasies come to the surface of the real world. Criminal behavior acts out the inner motive, intentions and yearnings. Looking in the mirror, we can see the reflection of evil. The manifestation is right there staring back. He or she has many faces, screened by good intentions while traveling to many places. So, how do we ultimately define him, her or it? We’ve seen our adversary and he or she is us. In the meantime, while we deal with harsh realities, others fabricate excuses. Things aren’t so simple, easily defined, reduced to black and white issues that the public, politicians and the press enjoy. Evil is what we do to others that is cruel, causes harm and creates human deprivation. It upsets our rosy view of the world and strikes at the core of basic comprehension. Malicious, immoral and wicked, evil is the violence we do on different levels of collective interpersonal action.
Religion creates a devil to battle with mystical gods. Hollywood portrays doctors as cannibals, while the news media finds “mind hunters” who hunt “monsters”. Some in the field of criminology “profile” templates of simplistic formulas. In the process, they are hoping to emblazon the sign of the beast for all to see. Non-practitioners, theoreticians and academicians piously postulate the latest theoretical assertions. Yet, the truth remains shrouded in layers of myth and metaphor. At the same time, a bugle call from politicians demand we strike back. Go after and strike back against evil forces in the world. Meanwhile, the public remains puzzled and perplexed. Everyone ponders what is the truth and who do you trust. The violence and cruelty of humankind knows no boundaries. Dynamics of personality cross civil lines of social order, depriving others of their freedoms.
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