person? We always say, How hard is it to just not do that ? Like, how hard is it to
just not
steal another man’s car? How hard is it to
just not
rape a village in Africa? How hard is it to
just not
shoot a whole grocery store full of people? How hard is it to
just not
throw your baby in the trash —’
‘I get it,’ Darren said.
Chad was red in the face, forcing himself to wind it down. ‘I mean… seriously.’
Darren nodded. ‘World’s full of wickedness, Chad, plain and simple.’
‘People are fucking stupid!’ Chad blurted, then froze, looking very much like he wished he could reel his words back in. ‘I’m sorry. Excuse me, Mr Lynwood.’
‘Don’t worry about it,’ Darren said. ‘You’re right. People can be shi… a disappointment. But here’s the thing, Chad. If you can remember this, and stick to it, say, ninety per cent of the time, you will pretty much pave your own way.’
Chad was gazing at Darren as if he were about to impart the meaning of life. Darren felt a little foolish, but what the hell, the moment called for such proclamations. They needed something to feel better about.
‘The truth is,’ he said, softening his voice, ‘most people aren’t stupid. Some are, no question, and they can’t help it because they were born that way. We can forgive these folks, because they don’t have a choice, and even dumb people can give something back to the world. The problem is, too many people – not all, not even most, but too many people – are weak. They’re not strong like you, Chad. And Raya, and my wife.’
‘And you,’ Chad cut in. ‘You’re strong.’
Darren sniffed. ‘Maybe. I can be when I need to be. My point is, we all have weaknesses, but this is not the same thing as being weak. Most of the problems in the world, the real corruption, happen because too many people aren’t strong enough to resist whatever will make them feel better right now . I’m talking about everything from petty criminals to the ones we put on a pedestal. Look at our institutions: government, the church, Wall Street, professional sports, Hollywood, you name it. It’s everywhere, people grabbing for as much as they can get, by any means necessary, and when they get caught, which they always do, eventually, what do they do?
‘They lie, cover it up, bend more rules, and then give a half-assed televised apology that is, without fail, one hundred-per-cent staged. Integrity is a lost concept in our culture, Chad. We’re living in an age when it’s winner take all, even if you have to cheat to win. Put your sin on a credit card, pay for it later, or don’t. This is weakness, people caving in to their weaknesses.’
‘That totally makes sense,’ Chad said.
‘This thing today, with your teacher? I don’t know the whole story, but I promise you when this thing comes out, it’s gonna be all about somebody – a parent, a kid, a family, a psychopath, whoever’s involved – who took the easiest route to getting their rocks off. Cause it’s easier to steal and lie and, yes, even commit murder, than it is to deal with your own problems. To take the hard road and resist whatever makes you feel better now, today, in the moment.’
Chad looked like he wished he could take notes.
‘I’m sorry,’ Darren said. ‘I’m sermonizing here. All I’m saying is, and this is a talk I’ve had with Raya more than once, if you want to be good, and I’m not talking about being rich or successful, but good at something, and good to the people you love, then the single most important thing to do is resist your own weaknesses. We all have them. Some of us work at rising above them, others don’t. And that’s all I want you kids to remember, okay? Before you cut a corner, or do something that seems too good to be true, take a second. Stop. Think. Is this the right thing to do, or just the easy thing to do? Because, son, those two things are almost never the same thing.’
‘That’s awesome,’ Chad
just not
steal another man’s car? How hard is it to
just not
rape a village in Africa? How hard is it to
just not
shoot a whole grocery store full of people? How hard is it to
just not
throw your baby in the trash —’
‘I get it,’ Darren said.
Chad was red in the face, forcing himself to wind it down. ‘I mean… seriously.’
Darren nodded. ‘World’s full of wickedness, Chad, plain and simple.’
‘People are fucking stupid!’ Chad blurted, then froze, looking very much like he wished he could reel his words back in. ‘I’m sorry. Excuse me, Mr Lynwood.’
‘Don’t worry about it,’ Darren said. ‘You’re right. People can be shi… a disappointment. But here’s the thing, Chad. If you can remember this, and stick to it, say, ninety per cent of the time, you will pretty much pave your own way.’
Chad was gazing at Darren as if he were about to impart the meaning of life. Darren felt a little foolish, but what the hell, the moment called for such proclamations. They needed something to feel better about.
‘The truth is,’ he said, softening his voice, ‘most people aren’t stupid. Some are, no question, and they can’t help it because they were born that way. We can forgive these folks, because they don’t have a choice, and even dumb people can give something back to the world. The problem is, too many people – not all, not even most, but too many people – are weak. They’re not strong like you, Chad. And Raya, and my wife.’
‘And you,’ Chad cut in. ‘You’re strong.’
Darren sniffed. ‘Maybe. I can be when I need to be. My point is, we all have weaknesses, but this is not the same thing as being weak. Most of the problems in the world, the real corruption, happen because too many people aren’t strong enough to resist whatever will make them feel better right now . I’m talking about everything from petty criminals to the ones we put on a pedestal. Look at our institutions: government, the church, Wall Street, professional sports, Hollywood, you name it. It’s everywhere, people grabbing for as much as they can get, by any means necessary, and when they get caught, which they always do, eventually, what do they do?
‘They lie, cover it up, bend more rules, and then give a half-assed televised apology that is, without fail, one hundred-per-cent staged. Integrity is a lost concept in our culture, Chad. We’re living in an age when it’s winner take all, even if you have to cheat to win. Put your sin on a credit card, pay for it later, or don’t. This is weakness, people caving in to their weaknesses.’
‘That totally makes sense,’ Chad said.
‘This thing today, with your teacher? I don’t know the whole story, but I promise you when this thing comes out, it’s gonna be all about somebody – a parent, a kid, a family, a psychopath, whoever’s involved – who took the easiest route to getting their rocks off. Cause it’s easier to steal and lie and, yes, even commit murder, than it is to deal with your own problems. To take the hard road and resist whatever makes you feel better now, today, in the moment.’
Chad looked like he wished he could take notes.
‘I’m sorry,’ Darren said. ‘I’m sermonizing here. All I’m saying is, and this is a talk I’ve had with Raya more than once, if you want to be good, and I’m not talking about being rich or successful, but good at something, and good to the people you love, then the single most important thing to do is resist your own weaknesses. We all have them. Some of us work at rising above them, others don’t. And that’s all I want you kids to remember, okay? Before you cut a corner, or do something that seems too good to be true, take a second. Stop. Think. Is this the right thing to do, or just the easy thing to do? Because, son, those two things are almost never the same thing.’
‘That’s awesome,’ Chad
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