It's Your Choice
“They bound them and shot them, Dad. It shocked and sickened me.
While they lay upon the ground, they took aim, cold-bloodedly.
How could they do such a thing, Dad? It really bothers me.
Are some men born monsters, or is this just humanity?”
“Well, son, some men are simply cowards who just do what they’re told;
They’ll carry out an order as if they’re remote-controlled.
And some are too scared not to, lest they themselves end up shot.
Would you buckle in such a situation, son? I hope not.
Other men are messed up, son, they’re simply ill mentally;
Put them in charge, and sooner or later there’ll be misery.
Somewhere on life’s journey, son, perhaps as a child, maybe,
Things went astray in their head; even genetically.
Some of them are victims too, perpetuating the past,
But as to what exactly triggers things — that, is a big ask.
There’re so many variables, and we’re rather complex, son,
And who has the time and expertise to deal with it, son?
Some men are opportunists, others err when chance appears,
Giving into temptation, or the pressure of their peers.
Chance can show a weakness, son, that hides beneath a veneer,
And certain situations can see flaws kick into gear.
But having said that, son, we’re all affected in some way,
Thus, in a sense it is humanity, I’m sorry to say.
However, son, we do have a choice, despite our background,
And need to remember that what goes around, comes around.
There’ll always be evil, and evil men — that’s reality,
Hence the wickedness we see that’s somewhat a mystery.
But out of the two forces that are operating, son,
I’m hoping that your choice will never be the evil one.
'Cause even good men can fall, lose the plot, and go astray,
Be taken in by error, succumb, and choose the wrong way.
Sometimes it’s pride, money or sex — authority also,
'Cause some once given power, take advantage, ill seeds sow.
In the scheme of things, good men are few, 'cause most men succumb,
Thereby joining those who march to the beat of evil’s drum.
It takes a certain strength to refrain, son, stand up, say “No,”
Hence why most men take the easy way out — it’s self, you know.
Yes, you’ll always find, son, that self’s at the root of it all,
And that for most, only doing right, seems too hard a call.
But as for monsters, son — well, that’s simply what some become,
Be it via choice, injury, chance, swing of the pendulum.”
By Lance Landall