We are all inevitably born to a father and a mother. We grow up in a family, make friends and try to meet people, connect with a broader circle through the media, and in the end, it’s safe to say that we humans are social beings.
Pay attention to this story:
It was the summer when I was 12. I had finally managed to make some friends. There were four of us. The others had known each other since childhood. I was the new kid. Every morning, we would take our bikes and ride around town. What did we do” The same things all boys do—playing marbles, using slingshots, racing, and the like.
Sometimes, when they got bored, they became mean and started annoying those weaker than them. It didn’t matter If it was an animal or a person… They would burn ants, would break birds’ wings, and would bully lonely, skinny kids our age. At first, I didn’t like it. Every time I saw their careless laughter and the pain on the victim’s face, I felt a heaviness In my chest. I felt nauseous. I hated myself. As time passed, I realized that everything was becoming more normal to me. When someone got beaten up and had their money taken by force, I no longer felt nausea, and my muscles tensed up. Deep in my heart, I knew it was wrong. But I did nothing.
Near the end of that summer, we had to move because of my father’s job. Although I had some good memories, I felt a sense of relief. I was getting away from them, and I wouldn’t have to do things I didn’t like anymore. Maybe now, I could finally sleep peacefully at night…
We can all relate to this story. Every person, at some point in life, has found themselves in a situation where, to keep a friend, to be liked, to be accepted, or out of fear of being alone or left out, they felt forced to go along with the others. This pressure to conform can happen at school, in your neighborhood, in society, in the media, or even within your own family. It doesn’t matter where; what matters is that, deep in your heart, you never truly agree with what’s happening, even if you’ve gotten used to the polluted air you breathe.
This story isn’t over…