Soft, Creamy Centers

There's a lot of people out there who say that human beings are essentially good. That we have soft, creamy centers of warmth and fuzzy feelings. That we are refined by our culture and socioeconomic statuses to a position, a caliber, that is entirely different from, say, those in other countries who rape, kill, and maim.

Wait, what was that again?

How can we be considered any better than human beings who live just around the corner of the world from us? We see TV specials about violence and brutality in South Africa, and maybe even care, at times, but secretly hold the belief that we, being of American quality, are incapable of such heinous acts. We could never be the serial killer who gets caught in the end. We couldn't possibly be that "bad."

Or could we?

What's the difference, here? I mean, really, when you get down to it: how are we so different? What distinguishes us from all of those other people? Our evolutionary progression? Please. If you follow that route then you're essentially saying that "bad guys" are of an inferior species, while we, the "good guys," are just naturally superior. Good luck finding someone who's willing to say that and really stick by it. And if you do find someone who does, applaud them. It takes a special breed of ignorance to assert such a blind position.

What other options are available, then? How about this one: all human beings are sinful, fallen, capable of even the most debase thoughts and deeds. That sinful nature can be swept under the rug by our Stepford smiles and white-washed fences, but it doesn't make it any less real. Take a gander at politics. Really look at it. Our government, in order to function, is developed to have "checks and balances" so that no one branch can obtain the upper hand over the others. Even in such a broad, general realm, human beings need to be checked and balanced. Corrected and restrained.

Why is that, do you think?

It's because we are all fallen. We are all filled to overflowing with sin and malice and hate and greed. We naturally take advantage over those whom we can take advantage of. I'm sorry, but that's not survival of the fittest. If it was, then there would be no reason to restrain ourselves so very often. It's seen as unfair to take advantage of others, yet we teach that nature's progression is the end-all-be-all.

That just doesn't make sense to me...