Sunday Morning Musings

I realized this morning, while I lay in bed petting my two dogs, that I grew up in a fairly functional family. I grew up happy, healthy, and protected from much or most of the evil in the world. To my recollection, my parents never argued in front of us (I have a 56 year old brother).

I recall being loved, accepted, and spanked when needed. I don't think I ever didn't deserve an "attention getter" when I got one. However, they were few and far between. I even remember the last one -- I think I was 14 or 15, and my brother and I had gotten ahold of some cigarettes (this was 1958 or 59) and had "smoked" some. We were "latchkey kids," before the term was coined, for an hour or so after we arrived home from Parochial School and our mother arrived home from her teaching job. As I recall, the time for Mom to arrive home was nearing and she was early. I stashed the 'butts' and took 'sen-sen' to get the smell out of my mouth (how silly, my clothing must have smelled of smoke). I told my brother to hide the pack of cigarettes. Like a little brother, he sticks them under his chest of drawers, forgetting that the chest is a couple inches off the floor. In fact, just enough inches for Mom to vacuum under. Mom came home and since she was smoking at the time, must not have realized how 'smoky' we two smelled. We thought we'd gotten away with it. We would have, too, if my brother had hidden the cigarettes somewhere safe. On Saturday, Mom was vacuuming, I'd totally forgotten about the 'little sin' and failed to make sure the cigarettes were 'safe' from Mom or Dad. And then the call came, loud and clear. I think Mom had already informed Dad or maybe Dad was doing yard work and came in. I don't recall the exact turn of events other than that Dad's belt came off, we were lectured and then ordered to our rooms to lay over our beds. My brother starts screaming before the first strike. THAT I remember. He still got a whupping. Then it was my turn. Something about being 'older' and 'knowing better' from a parent who smokes made me stubborn. Mom whupped and I refused to cry. Again, the belt came down on my posterior. I refused to cry. And again. Then, the first time I ever heard my Mom curse, she said, "Cry, damnit" at which I got another whup and I let loose some tears. Satisfied with that, I was left to sit in my room and think about my crime. What she doesn't know is how angry I was with little brother for being so careless when he 'hid the evidence.'

Now, I've only heard my parents curse three times in my entire life. I only got one of those and my brother got the other two. I don't know if I deserved mine, but my brother . . . he's not here to defend himself, however I think he probably earned his two.

Where this post is going is to the evils in today's world. I am unable to comprehend so much of it. I wasn't raised to think of ways to be evil. I wasn't raised to hurt people. I was raised to think before I did or said anything. Not that I always do think first, but I don't intentionally act or say evil. It's not my nature. Nor was I nurtured in an atmosphere of evil.

So what makes a person act evil? That's today's question.

Is it 'nature' or 'nurture' or is it something more sinister? Is there an entity called "evil" which procreates in the hearts and minds of some people? If so, how does this "evil entity" pick and choose? I have friends whose home life was so dysfunctional that a person would assume the individuals would grow up only to end up in prison. But they are kind, productive, nurturing adults. I also know adults who were raised in a fairly functional family but who have chosen (or been chosen?) to break laws and end up in jail. How much of a 'choice' does the individual make based on an inclination to act evil? Why do some people look at a situation and immediately think of ways to help, while others think of ways to take advantage? What 'programs' a person to act?

And since it is Sunday, how much influence does religion or faith have on a person? Do some shrug off the warnings and commandments and think that since the Supreme Being can't reprimand them personally they can do as they choose? There are those who do not believe in a Supreme Power yet are not evil. So how much does one's 'faith' influence one's behavior?

These are my Sunday morning musings. Maybe an answer or two will be revealed and I can share it with you. May you have peace and joy this day.

(PS to the English Majors: I use the term 'evil' as noun where you may think I should have used the adverbial form.)