Indifference Breeds Evil

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Indifference Breeds Evil Norman Cousins, an American journalist and professor, once said, “The individual is capable of both great compassion and great indifference. He has it within his means to nourish the former and outgrow the latter.” Choices comprise the essence of life. Many people assess the circumstances they encounter in their life and tend to react in their best interests. When a fellow man requires a helping hand most people pay no heed because it’s the easy way out. However, other people will go out of their way to lend a hand even if it takes exertion on their part and they will be triumphant, knowing they created a better world. In contrast, those who are indifferent to another’s plight will bring more evil into the world. In conclusion, a person sometimes needs to let go of his indifference to face the truth of what is right. In the following stories, we will show how the choices people make effect society for the good or the bad. We will explore the colonists first who were faced with a choice during the Revolutionary War. The colonists of America started to rebel against the mighty British Empire for a number of reasons. John Locke had written about the “social contract” which meant that the government can only be of authority if it has consent of the governed. Locke continues and says that if the government abuses the rights of the governed the people can rebel and overthrow the government. This idea began to germinate in the minds of the colonists as the British government began forcing unreasonable tariffs on them. The Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and the Townshend Acts were all different taxes that the British parliament placed on goods and commodities at a time when the economy was at a low. The colonists starte... ... middle of paper ... ... grow out of a widespread pursuit of individual interests,” there’s a need for “…cooperative efforts…of many people” (Velasquez, Andre, Shanks, S.J. and Meyer 2). The “common good” is something with which everyone can partake and enjoy. For example, a clean unpolluted environment. The problem with the “common good” is that not everyone in society will be motivated towards one goal because people will support their own interests and not towards the goal of the “common good.” Even though the ideal society of everyone working toward the “common good” can never become reality it is a point to ponder. People should reflect if their actions are going to benefit society or cause distress or hardship on others. Our society stresses individualism, but we cannot remain indifferent to the shared goals we all have in common. (Velasquez, Andre, Shanks, S.J. and Meyer)

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