Sunday, February 9, 2014

Evil Potion

To my son Tommy,

You are playing in the tub right now. You seem to be making certain toys drink a bath water potion and when they do you go into this maniacal laugh and declare that they have been turned evil. I think you get this from watching Sofia the First, but this is a common topic in literature, and art, and history, and even in real life. 

There truly are potions and concoctions that will turn the nicest person in to a beast or into a zombie. Anything from alcohol to heroin and just about everything in between can contribute to a good man's downfall. Then there are potions that can be worse but do not enter the body in the typical fashion, such as power and greed. Just remember, though the potion can explain the behaviors, it does not excuse them.

There is still that initial choice, that moment where you can decide not to partake, that plants culpability for one's actions firmly in a person's heart and soul. The choice may be easy for some and difficult for others, but it is still a choice. You might be force feeding your toys that evil potion in your imagination, but that is just a child playing in the tub, and the toys have no say in the matter. It may feel that the circumstances in life, be it poverty or peer pressure or tragedy, are forcing you take a sip of that evil potion, but you are much more stronger willed and have much more of a say than your bath toys.

Sincerely with love from your dad,
Leo

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