I recently watched the movie Lone Survivor. I also watched The
Wolf of Wall Street. These are two very different movies. But they both got
me thinking. And my brain on wheels made a connection.
Lone Survivor, if
you have not seen or heard of it, is based on a nonfiction book of the same
name, written by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson. It tells the story of a
Navy Seal mission in Afghanistan gone wrong. I don’t want to give away the
movie in case you intend to watch it. What the movie made me think was how some
people give without question. In this case, some people gave their lives in the
service of their country and their military brothers.
Now, The Wolf of Wall
Street is the complete opposite. This movie is based on the memoir of
Jordan Belfort, a former stockbroker convicted of fraud. Although the movie was
funny and entertaining, it completely disgusted me. It showcased humans at
their worst, absolutely selfish and corrupted. And it made me think of how some
people take without question.
I have told you before that I think humans are self centered
and self serving by nature. We want what we want and we’ll do what it takes to
get it. We seek to fill our needs and desires.
Watching the Wolf, like watching and reading the news, reminded me of
this. It reminded me that humans can be, and often are, disgusting, greedy,
inconsiderate pigs. Yes, I know that sounds awful, but we are awful sometimes.
Of course, our selfishness doesn’t just manifest itself in big
ways. It is on display every time we disregard the feelings of others. Just
think about the people in your own lives, the people around you. Think about
your own behavior. When you cut someone off in traffic. When you talk on your
phone while in the checkout line. When you don’t show your appreciation for
someone’s efforts. When you belittle or insult. When you lie. When you demand
others to do or give you what you want. When you just expect people to help you
when you need it, but then don’t return the favor. When you blame others for
your problems. When your conversations revolve around your own troubles and you
never ask the other person how they are doing. When you take others for
granted. I don’t mean you, as in you individually or specifically. I mean you
and me, all of us humans. We all are guilty and we all know people who are
guilty.
Blah, blah, blah. I've said all this before and you are probably sick of me ragging on the human race. So, let’s move on, shall we.
These two movies provided a study in contrast for me. I
asked myself, “If we are all selfish by nature, what accounts for people who
are willing to sacrifice their lives for others?” And though it is easy to cite examples of
human wickedness, there are also stories of great humanity. The true story
behind Lone Survivor is such an example. Not only did members of the military
give without question, but an Afghan villager helped save the life of an
American soldier despite the danger involved.
I recently read about a young boy who died after going back
into a burning house to help save a family member.
Last year, Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines. So
many organizations gave money to aid those affected. And individuals from
different countries and different backgrounds traveled there on their own dime to help in any way
they could. People who won't be recognized in the news.
A story came out of the Olympics regarding an opposing coach
who ran out to aid an Alpine skier who broke his ski. The coach put on a
replacement ski and the competitor was at least able to finish the race. The coach had nothing to gain by helping the skier.
What about people like Mother Teresa? Martin Luther King, Jr?
Mohandas Gandhi? Nelson Mandela? Malala Yousafzai?
These are just notable examples. But again, think about
those around you. Maybe they haven’t risked their lives or donated large sums
of money. Maybe they gave their time and energy. They didn't have to, but they
did. Maybe they offered an ear to listen and shoulder to cry on when you were
feeling down. Maybe they bought or made you a gift they obviously put some
thought into. Maybe they fed you or gave you a ride or lent you money. Maybe
they have infinite patience and put up with all your faults without pointing
them out. Maybe they are always helping or giving to others. I know people like
that.
So, after considering all this, I had to question my belief
that we are all bad, selfish creatures by nature. Is it possible that we are actually
inherently good? I used to believe that we were, back when life hadn't chipped away at the idealist in me. But maybe I've always held on to that, somewhere
deep down inside.
But if we are all inherently good, what happens to lead us
astray? Conversely, if we are all inherently bad, what accounts for the stories
of heroism and sacrifice? Is it what we are taught? Is it experience? Does life
push us in one direction or the other? Or is it society? Is it all dependent on
chemicals or processes in our brains?
I wish that I had a brain for science and could understand
human behavior. But then again, maybe it’s not all scientific. Science, after
all, can’t always predict human behavior. There’s something else, something
more. I don’t know the answers to these questions. I don’t know if we are good
or bad by nature. But I would like to think that whatever the answer is, we are
all capable of doing good, even great things. I would like to believe there is
a hero, or even a saint, in all of us.
What do you think?
