There is ever the hope in this world
That evil can be quietly avoided
And will simply go away
Without our heroism.
And we should know by now
If we can manage to pry open
Even one eye half way from its slumber
That it often does not.
Yet in our movies
We are taught with great regularity
To respect the one who is reluctant
To get involved until he
Is forced into it at last.
And from then on we cheer him on
Giving no thought to the
Many ills that his early reluctance
Had allowed to fester.
The music tells us that his valiant end
Makes up for his negligent beginning.
And this helps us feel good about ourselves
Intending that we ourselves will someday spring to action
Like the movie hero and have our moment in the spotlight—
Our current lack of conviction and cowardice
Being graciously forgotten by all
In deep gratitude for our service.
And we lie to ourselves that we are yet “good men”
Before we have yet lifted a finger to stop evil.
We mistake the self-deceit of our supposedly good intentions
For the reality of a worthy character.
We have no idea that we are being deliberately trained
To think and behave in this way.
