Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring!

“People say you’re born innocent, but it’s not true. You inherit all kinds of things that you can do nothing about. You inherit your identity, your history, like a birthmark that you can’t wash off. … We are born with our heads turned back, but my mother says we have to face into the future now. You have to earn your own innocence, she says. You have to grow up and become innocent.”
― Hugo Hamilton, The Sailor in the Wardrobe

I watched “Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring over a year ago. For some reason I felt like I should write a blog post about it. Perhaps, the main reason was because of news today of the terrorist attack in Paris… Hundreds of people died in this tragedy and everywhere in the world, people are sending condolences to France and fighting against terrorism.

The first thing that I saw when I was opening up Facebook was the image of Eiffel tower and the triple colours of French flag everywhere. At the same time, it’s got me thinking of something different. The terrorists must have no fear and must have known that they will forever be cursed for being murderers. I wondered how they grew up and couldn’t help thinking about what might have happened with ifs and buts.

Some believe that people were born innocent, some never quite believed in it. I am not trying to argue what is right or wrong when it comes to a life circle of the four basic human emotions: Happiness; Sadness; Love and Hate. And perhaps we may spend 1:45 minutes of our lives watching this movie just to have a new perception of life: (Animal) cruelty is part of natural instinct, no matter what age you are. As you grow up, only if you are lucky enough to have good education and training, you will be able to see the world in the eyes of love and kindness.

Then I wrote this on my Facebook page this morning with knowing that many people would disagree with:

“Call me a cold-hearted person but I would rather be working instead of spending time on the internet and praying for Paris… My deep condolences to Parisians, my dear French colleagues and the world but still 500,000 people died Since Start Of U.S.-Led Invasion and 6 to 8 million people die annually from the consequences of disasters and water-related diseases… and millions and millions of people die every year due to LACK OF EDUCATION. Just thought that the more you are showing your support to either French and/or Russia and/or America and/or China and/or North Korea, the more you will be helping the world’s top politicians to play their political/economical games… If all citizens were treated like humans from the very beginning with equal education then this should not be happening… Therefore work hard, study hard and stop bulls**ting!” 

Good upbringings are vital by Vincent Nguyen:

“All things truly wicked start from innocence.”

What would have happened if Hitler, or any other horrible well-known figure, had grown up elsewhere? Hypothetical situations like this are interesting to wonder about but it shows the importance of the upbringing; there is something that went wrong somewhere.

Even if you don’t believe that everyone is born innocent, you can’t deny the impact of environmental factors and the effects of parents on their children.

Hemingway reminds you to create a positive environment that encourages positive personal growth because he believed we’re all born innocent. Look into your own past. How did you turn out to be the person you are today? No doubt, your upbringing played a major role.

Stay safe Paris!