There’s a tyrant in each of us

THE EDITOR, Madam:

While I don’t hold much faith in scriptural teachings, I do give credence to the biblical claim (Jeremiah 17:9) that base corporeal human nature is “desperately wicked”.

Many monotheists insist upon creating their Creator’s nature in their own fallible and too-often angry, vengeful image. And many monotheists insist that God is on their ‘side’, while condemning this or that identifiable populace.

Meantime, while some identifiable groups have been brutally victimised throughout history a disproportionately large number of times, the victims of one place and time can, and sometimes do, become the victimisers of another place and time.

People should avoid believing, let alone claiming, that they are not capable of committing an atrocity, even if relentlessly pushed.

Contrary to what is claimed or felt by many of us, deep down there’s a tyrant in each of us that, under the just-right circumstances, can be unleashed.

FRANK STERLE JR