In class, we are covering chinese literature, and yesterday we were talking specifically about
Confucius. The view he holds for life is pretty simplistic. Do not be evil. Seek to better yourself with knowledge while remaining humble. Live to honor your family. Rule with kindness and moral order. Just simple things that one would think are common knowledge. The good ol' "do unto others as you would have done to you." I sat at my desk thinking, " Duh, this stuff is a no brainer, right?" But then then as conversation progressed, it seemed others thought differently. Some said that it was impossible to rule/govern that way. That punishment is the only way to get through to some people. As a whole, we discussed how America is constantly endorsing compettition. People are continuously striving to get another rung up on the social ladder, and people want to know who is the best. For example, the Daytona 500 or the Superbowl. Its always a race, a fight to be champion. Why is it all so important to us? Why do we have to step on people to feel a sense of self worth? Throw them under the bus just to get ahead? By the end, the conversation was clinched with, " Its just hard to be a good person. Its hard work."
Why? Why is it hard? Shouldn't goodness and wanting to do whats right just come naturally? Shouldn't we strive for a better world where everyone gets a shot and when they fall short we help pick them up? If not, goodness, then what? What is our preset? The preset of human nature? Is it really violence and rebellion? Is that why there's so much chaos going on in the world? Why there are delinquent kids not respecting their parents, why in some places it isn't even safe to come to a school without fearing for your self respect or even your physical soundness? Are we all just bad on the inside? Take away the politics, the wars, and social cliques, and what would happen? Left to start over again, how would we proceed? Would violent human nature and a passion for power and glory win out over an understanding of common good and camaraderie?
The teachings are a helpful reminder that humans can be caring beings, but it is in our nature to be violent.
ReplyDeleteBut why? Don't we have some sort of choice here? What about that voice inside? That myth I guess called a "conscience"?
DeleteI loved learning about different cultures and religions its very fun and interesting!
ReplyDeleteIt all comes down to that. Always. We as christians see good because that is what we are taught to do. Those who are innocent think that naturally. But innocence is a dying breed. Even the Chinese and Japanese are noticing it. Those who don't like religion or those who just never knew, try to find another way to survive in this world. This world that has become so cruel in their way. When at one time we were young and innocent and all we knew was to depend on God for everything we needed.
ReplyDeleteYou have written beautifully here, Marina. I love the questions you pose...so simple but yet so complicated. I think that's why I love the novel Lord of the Flies so much; those boys were innocent when they landed on that island, but it all went so wrong. But maybe William Golding, the author, was a pessimist; maybe all would be well if such a scenario were true. Do you think I could be an effective teacher if there were no "punishments" for poor behavior? Will people be motivated by my belief in their abilities? I struggle with this balance. Your blog made me consider it yet again, and I think that is what makes an excellent blog: it makes people think. Thanks for it.
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