When I grew up we had to be taught to do wrong.
Nobody thought of breaking the rules.
they were hallowed,
to be held in awe and obeyed without question.
It took someone to come along and show us how to break the rules.
It took great courage to try it.
However, once done, it was a characteristic to be worn like a badge of fearlessness.
It, thus, became a feat to be repeated
again and again.
We didn't always know who had taught the one who showed us how to be evil.
What did it matter?
We were content with searing our own consciences and hardening our own hearts to guilt.
We became addicted to learning how to better lie and steal and betray and do all sorts of evil well.
It was exciting, thrilling and awful.
When we got caught, we would be punished and this taught us two things:
learn not to get caught and
learn to make choices.
I remember how often I wanted to do something and how I balanced it in the scale. . .
Was what I wanted to do worth the punishment should I be caught?
If the answer was yes, then I took the risk.
Morality never entered the equation because punishment is never the final answer to the riddle of good and evil.
When I grew up we had to be taught how to do wrong.
No one ever thought to teach us how to do right.
Isn't there something to be learned from this?
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Reviews of "Knowing Good And Evil"
Reviewed by Elizabeth Taylor (Reader)
Reviewed on July 3, 2003
Good thought provoking work. Lot of sociopaths out there who learned the lessons well. Bravo.
Not to defend your parents, but it sounds as though you knew where the boundaries were. Crossing them was another story.
Write on, Londis.
Leland
Reviewed by Katy Walsvik (Reader)
Reviewed on July 2, 2003
Ahhh.. This needed to be said.. I salute your delivery and share each tender word, Lonnie.. You write with courage and such lovely wisdom.. Yes! .....katy.
A lot to be learned, Londis! How I relate to this. And consciences do get seared and hearts do get hardened to the guilt. Just look at society.... Thank you for this...
In Spirit,
Bear
"...when we got caught, we would be punished and this taught us two things:
learn not to get caught and
learn to make choices.
i remember how often i wanted to do something and how i balanced it in the scale...
was what i wanted to do worth the punishment should i be caught?
if the answer was yes, then i took the risk
morality never entered the equation because punishment is never the final answer to the riddle of good and evil"
(or i blamed my sister...but usually got caught in that one, too...double the punishment LOL)
Wilderness Bound -- Fire-fighter and paramedic, Matthew Standing Deer returns to the past, to the Lakota, only to find himself hurtled into danger, uncontrollable greed, and searching for a serial killer. Danger looms over everyone's head. How will h
Ireland 1945. Florence Kite finds a letter and her whole world crumbles. Marcus Fanning was her real father. But twenty-five years ago, Marcus Fanning vanished off the face of the earth.
COME CELEBRATE THE FOURTH WITH ME:
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewpoetry.asp?id=68051
Write on, Londis.
Leland
In Spirit,
Bear
so true...especially,
"...when we got caught, we would be punished and this taught us two things:
learn not to get caught and
learn to make choices.
i remember how often i wanted to do something and how i balanced it in the scale...
was what i wanted to do worth the punishment should i be caught?
if the answer was yes, then i took the risk
morality never entered the equation because punishment is never the final answer to the riddle of good and evil"
(or i blamed my sister...but usually got caught in that one, too...double the punishment LOL)
excellent, thought provoking write...well done
(((HUGS))) and love,
karla. :)
We, ourselves, are the only person who can judge what is right and what is wrong. We are our own judges.
Sandie Angel a.k.a. May Lu :o)