Henrietta’s sister Gladys believed that Skloot’s cancer cells grew so powerfully because she left their father behind for Gladys to care for as he aged: “The way Gladys saw it, that cancer was the Lord’s way of punishing Henrietta for leaving home” (213). Whether or not you agree with Gladys’s views on the morality of the decisions Henrietta made, do you believe that in this life (leaving aside your views of what happens after people die) immoral behavior is punished in some way? Put another way, do you think people who behave immorally (however you define moral behavior) have same chances to be happy in this life as people who avoid such behavior?
In the photo at right is a monument to Genghis Khan (11-62-1227) in Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Khan reigned over the largest contiguous land empire in human history and allegedly claimed that "Man's greatest good fortune is to chase and defeat his enemy, seize his total possessions, leave his married women weeping and wailing, ride his gelding, and use the bodies of his women as a nightshirt . . ." Today, many would consider Genghis Khan to have behaved immorally in his life, yet he was extremely powerful.
It all depends really on the personality of the person. I personally believe that what goes around comes around, and that everyone gets what they deserve eventually, even if we aren't around to see it. Putting my religious beliefs aside, it depends on the personality, and also upbringing of the person. Some people can do something considered immoral, and be completely unbothered by it. Other people are haunted by guilt and shame.
I agree with Taryn; most normal, ordinary, responsible people cannot commit an immoral act without being bothered in some way. Whether a person constantly reminisces on their "sin" or is only upset occassionally when reminded by some life event, he or she is affected. I think that there is a way to move forward though from a past of regrets. If a person finds forgiveness in themselves and others, he or she can move on.
I believe immoral acts are punished. Whether by outside forces (parents, God,ect..), inside forces (guilt) or by the consequenses of the acts, they are punished.
I think that yes somehow you are punished for your wrongdoings. When you are a young child through adolescence your immoral acts and crimes are punished by your parents and your guardians who urge you to move in the right direction and teach you how to rightly behave, and when you are older your misdemeanors are punishable by law. Also by how your role models and guardians taught you, you will be punished by your conscience.
As Emily and Taryn said, most normal, responsible people cannot commit any immoral act without having some sense that what was done was wrong. People can move past their failures and still pursue happiness. However, happiness is relative to the one seeking it. Some may happiness in a less and some more. Still, some may find happiness in immorality. Without getting too much into my religious opinions, happiness will always be fleeting, and people, both moral and immoral, will always be stuck in a perpetual cycle of seeking something more until they find the one thing that can provide them something more than happiness, joy.
I would like to think that people that act immorally are punished, even in the present life. Unfortunately though, I don't think that that is really often the case. Politics for example is a quite "cut-throat" career that people often are forced, or compelled to act immorally in order to advance. In this instance these people are not punished, but rewarded by being elected or gaining clout. In some cases it probably does come back around, through various scandals and whatnot, but for the most part I would say it goes unknown, and therefore unpunished. And those that do "leak" the immoral activities, probably did so to further their own. This is a relatively small sample of society, but it does show that being immoral could have only positive consequences.
Since I am a nerd, I would like to present Newton's 3rd law of motion. "For every action, there is an equal, and opposite, reaction." I believe this can be applied in this situation because of the fact that for every dishonest, immoral act you commit there is an equal, opposite reaction that will do the same to you-- hence the use of the word "equal". I believe that karma is a real thing and that it can kick your tail with an equal punishment for the pain you caused other people.
For those of you who believe that "what comes around goes around" in this life, how would you respond to the claim of a skeptic that this is wishful thinking? The world is full of virtuous people who suffer and vicious people who have lives filled with pleasures. What would you say to the claim that the only reliable reward for virtuous behavior comes in heaven and if you don't believe in heaven, you can't rely on justice in this life?
It all depends really on the personality of the person. I personally believe that what goes around comes around, and that everyone gets what they deserve eventually, even if we aren't around to see it. Putting my religious beliefs aside, it depends on the personality, and also upbringing of the person. Some people can do something considered immoral, and be completely unbothered by it. Other people are haunted by guilt and shame.
ReplyDeleteTaryn Jack
I agree with Taryn; most normal, ordinary, responsible people cannot commit an immoral act without being bothered in some way. Whether a person constantly reminisces on their "sin" or is only upset occassionally when reminded by some life event, he or she is affected. I think that there is a way to move forward though from a past of regrets. If a person finds forgiveness in themselves and others, he or she can move on.
ReplyDeleteEmily Davis
I believe immoral acts are punished. Whether by outside forces (parents, God,ect..), inside forces (guilt) or by the consequenses of the acts, they are punished.
ReplyDeleteI think that yes somehow you are punished for your wrongdoings. When you are a young child through adolescence your immoral acts and crimes are punished by your parents and your guardians who urge you to move in the right direction and teach you how to rightly behave, and when you are older your misdemeanors are punishable by law. Also by how your role models and guardians taught you, you will be punished by your conscience.
ReplyDeletestormy wigley
As Emily and Taryn said, most normal, responsible people cannot commit any immoral act without having some sense that what was done was wrong. People can move past their failures and still pursue happiness. However, happiness is relative to the one seeking it. Some may happiness in a less and some more. Still, some may find happiness in immorality. Without getting too much into my religious opinions, happiness will always be fleeting, and people, both moral and immoral, will always be stuck in a perpetual cycle of seeking something more until they find the one thing that can provide them something more than happiness, joy.
ReplyDeleteAllon Gillispie
I would like to think that people that act immorally are punished, even in the present life. Unfortunately though, I don't think that that is really often the case. Politics for example is a quite "cut-throat" career that people often are forced, or compelled to act immorally in order to advance. In this instance these people are not punished, but rewarded by being elected or gaining clout. In some cases it probably does come back around, through various scandals and whatnot, but for the most part I would say it goes unknown, and therefore unpunished. And those that do "leak" the immoral activities, probably did so to further their own. This is a relatively small sample of society, but it does show that being immoral could have only positive consequences.
ReplyDeleteSince I am a nerd, I would like to present Newton's 3rd law of motion. "For every action, there is an equal, and opposite, reaction." I believe this can be applied in this situation because of the fact that for every dishonest, immoral act you commit there is an equal, opposite reaction that will do the same to you-- hence the use of the word "equal". I believe that karma is a real thing and that it can kick your tail with an equal punishment for the pain you caused other people.
ReplyDeleteKarli Plunkett
For those of you who believe that "what comes around goes around" in this life, how would you respond to the claim of a skeptic that this is wishful thinking? The world is full of virtuous people who suffer and vicious people who have lives filled with pleasures. What would you say to the claim that the only reliable reward for virtuous behavior comes in heaven and if you don't believe in heaven, you can't rely on justice in this life?
ReplyDelete