Further Drivel of a Philosophical Nature
Sifting through my files, I found this charming little ditty I composed last year. I thought I might as well share it with everyone seeing as I don't have the time, energy or mental faculties right now to compose anything original. It may even be helpful (of all things!) in this stressful exam period. Enjoy, enjoy, by all means:
Mankind is an evil race. However, our brand of evil is not blunt and to the point, but sneaky and devious, which is far worse. We don’t spend enough time apologising for the right things in our lives, scapegoating other factors instead. People have been driven to depression and suicide because we are still painfully unable to accept those traits that mark us out as human beings.
For example: humans have different coloured skin. There’s no crime in that. Humans have a sex drive. There is no crime in that. Humans have moodswings, sometimes devastating emotions, conflicting opinions, different brains, different sexual preferences, different bodies, different eating habits, different habits, different religions, and different sexes: there is no crime in any of these things, yet most of us persist to feel guilt for them. What civil society forces us to confess over matters we are unable to prevent? Yet we do so again and again and again, whether consciously or subconsciously…
Most of these points hold true for all animals. They abide by no discernible creed. Yet humans aren’t content to accept the pitfalls of being a mammal on earth. We scapegoat the factors that define our very humanity as wicked, blatantly ignoring our real faults, which are all thoroughly preventable. In a sickening majority of cases, we use some very real personality defects as a means to repair the perceived line of flaws listed above.
Humans lie and cheat. Humans neglect each other’s needs. Humans are alternately brainwashed by negativity and positivity. Humans destroy the natural environment. Humans are arrogant and condescending. Humans judge others unfairly. Humans cheat, lie, hurt and kill: not through baser instincts, but through greed, envy and limitless hatred. We have a lot to apologise for in this arena, yet seldom do. Compare the two lists. Which is the more demanding line of "self improvement" (as bilious a phrase as that may be)? But our society has not taught us to hold these factors in high esteem. Our society is not concerned with properly improving the human condition. And it is ultimately our society that determines our view upon the world.
It is very rare that we seriously consider these gaping faults, so wrapped up are we in our own false facades, the same facades built up through years of deceit and trickery. Should everyone by some miracle start addressing their real problems at exactly the same time, we might well become a race for good. But I say, without doubt, that that manmade illusion is absolutely impossible to achieve, and man is evil at heart.
And yet... and yet...
There remains a tentative hope for us all. If we seek it before our glass is run. If we learn to properly earn our souls through trial and anguish and the effort of hard work and unquenchable passion. Even through the full density of the horror of our lives, humans remain the one animal with a moral compass. The ability to differentiate between right and wrong. And a sense of guilt in the first place.
So perhaps that's something to be thankful for. Somehow.
Hope you're all thoroughly depressed! Have a good night.
And yes, I do have a split personality. Y'know - the one that writes in italics and the one that doesn't. Remember - our false facades? Not so much false as different elements of our personality. I think I've only truly and fully met every aspect of another person seven or eight times. Quite a pathetic track record really. We should all be a bit more honest with each other. For the general good. But who will take the first plunge? Who will dare?
Mankind is an evil race. However, our brand of evil is not blunt and to the point, but sneaky and devious, which is far worse. We don’t spend enough time apologising for the right things in our lives, scapegoating other factors instead. People have been driven to depression and suicide because we are still painfully unable to accept those traits that mark us out as human beings.
For example: humans have different coloured skin. There’s no crime in that. Humans have a sex drive. There is no crime in that. Humans have moodswings, sometimes devastating emotions, conflicting opinions, different brains, different sexual preferences, different bodies, different eating habits, different habits, different religions, and different sexes: there is no crime in any of these things, yet most of us persist to feel guilt for them. What civil society forces us to confess over matters we are unable to prevent? Yet we do so again and again and again, whether consciously or subconsciously…
Most of these points hold true for all animals. They abide by no discernible creed. Yet humans aren’t content to accept the pitfalls of being a mammal on earth. We scapegoat the factors that define our very humanity as wicked, blatantly ignoring our real faults, which are all thoroughly preventable. In a sickening majority of cases, we use some very real personality defects as a means to repair the perceived line of flaws listed above.
Humans lie and cheat. Humans neglect each other’s needs. Humans are alternately brainwashed by negativity and positivity. Humans destroy the natural environment. Humans are arrogant and condescending. Humans judge others unfairly. Humans cheat, lie, hurt and kill: not through baser instincts, but through greed, envy and limitless hatred. We have a lot to apologise for in this arena, yet seldom do. Compare the two lists. Which is the more demanding line of "self improvement" (as bilious a phrase as that may be)? But our society has not taught us to hold these factors in high esteem. Our society is not concerned with properly improving the human condition. And it is ultimately our society that determines our view upon the world.
It is very rare that we seriously consider these gaping faults, so wrapped up are we in our own false facades, the same facades built up through years of deceit and trickery. Should everyone by some miracle start addressing their real problems at exactly the same time, we might well become a race for good. But I say, without doubt, that that manmade illusion is absolutely impossible to achieve, and man is evil at heart.
And yet... and yet...
There remains a tentative hope for us all. If we seek it before our glass is run. If we learn to properly earn our souls through trial and anguish and the effort of hard work and unquenchable passion. Even through the full density of the horror of our lives, humans remain the one animal with a moral compass. The ability to differentiate between right and wrong. And a sense of guilt in the first place.
So perhaps that's something to be thankful for. Somehow.
Hope you're all thoroughly depressed! Have a good night.
And yes, I do have a split personality. Y'know - the one that writes in italics and the one that doesn't. Remember - our false facades? Not so much false as different elements of our personality. I think I've only truly and fully met every aspect of another person seven or eight times. Quite a pathetic track record really. We should all be a bit more honest with each other. For the general good. But who will take the first plunge? Who will dare?
posted by James C. Swanton at 9:13 PM
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