lack of decency

If the world has taught us one thing during our lifetime, it is that there is always another side to the story. A girl I once knew was visiting Texas over spring break. She had been drinking heavily and while under the influence, met some friendly people who bought her a few rounds and hung out with her the rest of the day. Somewhere in between, one of the guys had stolen a few kisses and to her there seemed no harm had been done. A few days later upon awakening, she was very upset to see marks around her mouth. Fearing she had contracted a sexually transmitted disease, she had visited a doctor who needed not one, but two separate opinions before confirming his belief that the disease was one contracted from contact to human corpses. Authorities were notified and days later this once thought to be nice guy was arrested on accounts of cannibalism and the discovery of a few dead bodies within his home. Red Sammy had it right when he said “A good man is hard to find” (O’Connor). The world as we know it rarely has that humble, story book-happy ending because evil can be found not only in the forsaken slums, but behind closed doors. Movies like Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining or Flannery O’Connor’s story “A Good Man is Hard to Find” portray media our society assumes to be entertainment but in fact desensitize us from the harsh reality that horrors similar to these happen on a daily basis and the argument that truly sincere men or women are a rarity.
As children, we were raised never to talk to strangers because there are very many dangerous and bad people out there that will come and get you. As a feeble minded child we did not know any better, but now as adults, we know all too well that it was an understatement. “’It isn’t a soul in this green world of God’s that you can trust,’ she said. ‘And I don’t count nobody out of that, not nobody,’ she repeated” (O’Connor). The grandmother from O’Connor’s story has been around long enough to know people can mask what they are behind a very convincing smile. Similar to Kubrick’s film, Jack Torrance is a loving family man with high recommendations, references, and seems to be very “normal,” eventually losing his grip on reality and wields an axe as he attempts to hack his family to bits (The Shining). The idea that someone you love and are very close to can turn out to be such a person demonstrates how anyone can break down. To put it simply, human nature is to serve one’s self in order to survive or seek pleasure if tested.
In our times of desperate need for comfort or support, people cannot always find answers from family or friends so they reach out to God through their religion. When a person thinks of a church, the first thing on their mind would hopefully be peace that sets their mind at ease; however in such a world as this, can we be so confident in anything? Allegations of sexually abusive priests have been around but as of 2002 they have really began to surface. A shocking fact shows “An estimated 13,000 victims and some 5,000 abusive priests since 1950” (Kingsbury) are known to be documented and it is more than likely that is merely a scratch on the vast surface of decades left out. To add to the statistics, “Six dioceses around the country have been forced into bankruptcy because of abuse costs” (Kingsbury). Who can we turn to when our most holy churches and houses of prayer are tainted with sin? Questioning and doubting faith begins as we wonder where God has allowed so much evil to happen. Towards the end of O’Connor’s story, the grandmother begins to reconsider her faith, “’Maybe He didn’t raise the dead,’ the old lady mumbled, not knowing what she was saying and feeling so dizzy that she sank down in the ditch with her legs twisted under her” (O’Connor). After witnessing the cold blooded murder of her entire family, she wonders where God is for none of her prayers seem to help matters. Not only verbally, but psychically her mind and body are now are twisted as her faith has been shaken.
As our world has advanced and the complexity of our world grows as each day passes along, one would could not help but expect we are growing more and more civil as well. Shamefully, as strong as a nation as we are, we still fail when it comes to reaching a peaceful compromise with neighboring countries. After eight years ago upon the attacks on U.S. soil, we continue our war campaign in the Middle East. As of February this year, current President Obama has decided to “’deploy an additional 17, 000 troops to Afghanistan,’” in order to meet expectations of his Intel’s “’anticipated rise in violence’” for this up and coming spring. It is also noted by experts that 2009 is going to be a “’tough year’” (Waterman). The departure of our troops in this seemingly endless war remains a mystery. As a fellow citizen who once was in favor of the move, we the people cannot help but ponder the fearful thought whether or not our strenuous efforts will pay off in the long run. Where are morals and ethics? Perhaps we were once animals, but have yet to evolve into intelligent human beings that can solve problems with our brilliant minds. We have merely grown to more efficiently defeat one another, inevitably a destructive species looking to dominate! People like to blame it on the next generation, “’In my time,’ said the grandmother, folding her thin veined fingers, ‘children were more respectful of their native states and their parents and everything else. People did right then’” (O’Connor). Little things like respect was lacking then, wars occurred, and general disposition was never the text book definition as old folks like to recall. This world is inhabited by creatures that fend for themselves when put on the spot. Eventually, the grandmother pleas for her own life selfishly, while the Misfits orders the execution style murders of her family, granting her extra time. Where is the notable respect and love of the past she so emphasizes?
The grandmother portrays one of O’Connor’s beliefs in which, “individualism leaves people as self-focused wanderers without community who use others as means to their own ends. For O’Connor, this individualism is the cause for much of the rottenness in the world” (Hooten). Every moment she spoke was literally on her behalf whether it be her complaining about the trip or worrying about herself being killed over her young, and much deprived of life grandchildren. When the grandmother appears to be very concerned, she is in fact very manipulative, “’I wouldn’t take my children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose from the Federal Pen and headed toward Florida and you read her what he did to these people. I couldn’t answer to my conscience if I did’” (O’Connor 186). She plays the sympathy card and it almost seems cruel since we are aware of her intentions as it so clearly states she does not want to go to Florida, but wants to go to Tennessee. She cares nothing for their safety and she displays individualism that O’Connor regards as the corruption of the world. In The Shining, Jack Torrance also shows this characteristic. He has frightened his family and at one point Danny, his son, seems to be ill, however Jack goes on about himself in a frantic rage, “’Have you ever had a single moments though about my responsibilities? Have you ever thought, for a single solitary moment about my responsibilities to my employers? Has it ever occurred to you that I have agreed to look after the Overlook Hotel until May the first’” (The Shining). Jack rants on about himself in his delusional state and his mind is not his. He has been influenced by the evil spirits left behind in the hotel in exchange to help him accomplish his work. Their screams cannot shake him out of the induced trance; his psychological state is far too gone. To help his own mind, he must kill them. We must never forget the fact that stranger things have happened and the will of one when put in survival mode may resort to any tactics necessary. It is a sad world when you hear of family men who would rather give up someone they love or for this matter, loved in order to satisfy one’s own self.
The sought after honest, good willed, unselfish men and women who pledge to not only clean up, but maintain our nation is one we greatly hope we can place trust into and not have to worry. Time and time again, we are shocked by some scandal or corruption in what we were lead to believe was a secure refuge and symbol of hope. The badge the police officer is worn over the heart and reads sworn to protect. All across the nation, trials are pending and or already processed and keep proving that badge is worthless. Chicago 1974, there were “convictions of 48 cops in the past 3 years and the firing or forced resignations of 407 members of the force” (Time). Around the same time, many other cops have been convicted of nearly everything involving: police graft, connections to prostitution, narcotics, stolen goods, and burglaries (Time). As it happened then, the corruption on all levels has not strayed too far. In recent news, Illinois Governor has been under heat for quite awhile and was finally indicted in 2009. After promising to help our already corrupted government status, he had fallen into the trap to help serve his own self- a reoccurring theme among all the mentioned so far. It was said he “illegally pressured people to make campaign contributions,” and most shocking, caught “Scheming to sell an appointment to Obama’s Senate seat for campaign cash” (Wills). The promise of protection and help was lost among the greed to benefit one’s self. Our trust was put on edge years ago and it has yet to reach out to its people and pull through fully. How have we ever flourished this long in prosperity? We simply disregard the poor, while the powerful are spotlighted and run the world. We can further relate this to Kubrick’s film along with O’Connor’s theme of selfishness and the idea that our demons can get the better of us no matter who we are or what we think we can handle.
The idea a friendly looking face or a close loved one can turn their back to us is hard to conceive. It is also hard to believe the fact that such a bright, up and coming normal looking person can commit such ghastly crimes. Philip Markoff, or the Craigslist Killer, as he has been dubbed, had murdered one and attacked at least two others. The hard to believe culprit was “A 22 year old med student engaged to be married” was captured and found to have no prior record (Ford and Pearson). The son of an upstate family was caught on camera as “The clean-cut, 6-foot-tall suspect strolling casually to and from the three crime scenes peering into his Blackberry” (Ford and Pearson). It is certainly hard to imagine how or why such a successful young man could do such a thing. Some were lead to believe it was for financial gain. In relationship to appearances, the grandmother in “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” sees the Misfit, who is a killer, as a good man even though his heart is pure evil. At one point, she says “’I know you’re a good man. You don’t look a bit like you have common blood. I know you must have come from nice people.’ ‘Yes mam,’ he said, ‘finest people in the world.’ The he smiled and showed a row of strong white teeth. ‘God never made a finer woman then my mother and my daddy’s heart was pure gold,’ he said” (O’Connor 192). She goes on saying he doesn’t look the type and he seems nice, but the true identity is always masked and hidden from reality. We are not transparent; one must be careful of deception. Similarly, could you imagine a loving husband and father attempt to slaughter his young family? Torrance has already lost his mind and the voices in his mind scream kill! As his wife, Wendy, is scared and trying to retreat back to her room, Jack follows her with a demonic look, “’Wendy? Darling? Light, of my life. I'm not gonna hurt ya. You didn't let me finish my sentence. I said, I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm just going to bash your brains in’” (The Shining). There is a devil inside us all we cannot see, but don’t let it fool you because when you least expect it, his face will be shown through actions of people.
We constantly come face to face with the ugly truth that, we as people are what corrupt and taint this beautiful world and gift of life. We can keep running from it, keep the fact silent, or avoid the topic, but we must expose and come to terms with it. I have no solution because in the heat of the moment, there is no telling what people or even I for the matter. We try to live as a model person, but hit a dead end every now and then. The main saddening idea I wish to point out is that, in this world a truly good hearted and sincere man or woman, no matter color, shape, or size, is a rarity not only in this present day, but also the past. Some of the most sadistic will be hidden behind a beautiful face and a great big smile. The story of the grandmother and the Misfit, along with Jack Torrance and his family show how anyone from a friendly face on the street, to family living under the same roof as us can surprise us with horrific acts of violence and downright evil individualistic intentions. There is a lack of decency in people.