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Lia Kohelet

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Is there such a thing as a bad person?

Few years ago I arose this question in front of my family, and "caused" a huge quarrel. I claimed (and still do) that I don't believe that bad people exist. Deep inside we all are good but sometimes we let life circumstances control us, thus, choosing to DO bad things. My brother heard me and said: "Oh really, so Hitler was a good guy, right??"

And yes! That's a question that I thought of even months thereafter. Hitler was a person who had chosen killing millions of people, but that precisely why I wouldn't describe him as a bad person, rather as a very SICK one. For a person who chooses to fulfill himself in this life by killing others, is undoubtedly extremely sick, mentally sick!!

It doesn't mean that we should let people who hurt others acting freely, but perhaps to look a little deeper, understand them better, and perhaps even understand OURSELVES better.

Would love to hear your thoughts,
Lia

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  • Jul 4 2012: I wouldn't say bad is the correct term.

    Some people do bad things but with "just" cause. I say that meaning they might have a mental illness so they might not know any better or something.

    But some people do bad things because they are evil, and just want to watch the world burn.
    • Jul 5 2012: Right, that's exactly what I'm saying; some people just want to watch the world burn. I might be naive or inexperienced, but for me they are so poor for not being able to see the beauty of the world (or perhaps I should say first, the beauty of themselves) BUT I still wouldn't define them as bad. I think that I might be so stubborn with that attitude, because I feel as if others could be bad, I could be too, and that's something that I cannot tolerate.

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