An Unpopular Opinion

I always hear people saying things like "I don't know how someone could do such a thing!" or "I don't know how people can do things like that to each other!". This bothers me a little. Perhaps i'm overly jaded, even at my age, but i've always held the opinion that, under certain circumstances, people can - and do - do anything to each other. It's horrendous, but it happens every day. We get so focused on our first-world problems that we forget about people with actual struggles who are put in what feels like impossible situations. And when we see people put in these situations who respond with violence, we instantly condemn them as monsters. Everyone shouts "Who would do such a thing?" and "I could never do anything like that."

Which is, I think, a lie. Anyone can do anything if they have the will. Capacity can be achieved with the help of others - but will is always the more important factor. If you have the will to do something, you will find a way to do it if that will is strong enough. People do the most atrocious things to each other and to the people who commit those acts always seem to have a pretty reasoned (not neccesarily reasonable, though) explanation for why. PCP rages excluded, you'll find, I think, that the theme of having no other choice is pretty common. People pushed into corners and into extreme situations will act in extreme ways.

I'm not saying I approve of violence and terrorism. I don't. But I can understand how easily people can feel like it's a legitimate way to take action - when you're pushed up against a wall and you feel like you have no other choice, you do whatever you can to better your situation. I don't think that there's any shame in that, it's simply human nature. You do what you can to protect yourself and your family in the best way you know how or the best way you can, and maybe if you're lucky there isn't a bomb on your mother's doorstep the next day.

Just my thoughts for the morning.