For the Greater Good

Consciousness. Whether it’s God-given or socially constructed is debatable, but whatever the case is, it’s there. That small voice that warns us when something doesn’t seem right. A constant reminder of what should and shouldn’t be done.

All’s fair in love and war, so it’s said. Still, be it in times of war or for the sake of love, your consciousness doesn’t let you go away easily when you do something which is not normally considered “good”. A series of questions will bug you endlessly: Have I done something wrong? Was it the right thing to do?

Killing, for example. I believe that human beings are compassionate by nature. Therefore, putting an end to somebody else’s lives is beyond reason. Strangely, men have proven capable of ending so many lives without remorse throughout the course of time. The Crusade, the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Cambodian Killing Field--those were just a selected few.

When you look at it carefully, most--if not all--mass killings were based on “grand reason”. Most executioners didn’t kill a large number of people because they enjoyed it. In contrast, they did it for a reason far greater than themselves--national stability, world peace, the blessing of God.

Let’s reflect on their logic: “I don’t want to kill people. I shouldn’t kill people. But God punishes the heretics. Therefore, it’s alright if I kill the heretics. Therefore, I’m not deemed guilty if I kill the heretics.” Change the lines “God punishes...” with “the Japs killed my fellow countrymen in Pearl Harbor and caused sufferings in many parts of the world, etc” or “the revolutionaries caused national instability and divided our country, etc”, and the outcome will be the same. Actions which are scandalous in normal circumstances become more acceptable--even advisable--when you do it for the greater good.

Conscious-generated guilt is more powerful than any coercion or criticism put forth by others. They must believe with all their heart that they’re doing all the “bad” things for the greater good. Because, otherwise, it might be impossible for them get a good night sleep ever again.