Start your own fire

(Baonghean) - The "looting" of recent days is like a lingering wound in the heart. Domestic and foreign newspapers publish the news but I dare not read it because I feel ashamed for some people whom I have to call my compatriots who have committed such condemnable acts. I do not think they are so poor that those beer cans and flower pots can satisfy their hunger. So why does it still happen, even though it has been strongly condemned before?

Human social behavior is controlled by two important factors: law and social norms. I often come home from school very late, sometimes at 2-3 am, when I come to a red light, I still see a few people waiting even though the road is empty and there are no oncoming vehicles. If someone runs a red light at that time, it probably won't be a problem, so why do they still stop? First, they are afraid that the camera can record the license plate number so they don't dare to do it (fear of the law). Second, they feel ashamed when others are still waiting for the red light while they break the law (feel out of place in their behavior, fear of public opinion). And another reason, in my opinion, much more important, is habit. Japanese people have the habit of not running red lights, giving way to pedestrians, lining up for everything, saying a word of thanks to the person who made the food for them when eating, etc. When good behavior becomes a habit, it will become a beautiful cultural trait, and a beautiful cultural trait will be preserved for a long time.

I really like watching animal programs. If you pay attention to a hunt of lions against buffaloes, the lions will almost always win. Lions always believe that there will be a weakest prey running behind or at least one will run in a different direction from the rest of the herd. If the buffaloes turn around and point their sharp horns at the enemy, there will probably be nothing left for the lions to say. On the contrary, the buffaloes run away because they only think about themselves and also believe that they will not be eaten. They probably do not think that one day they will grow old, fall behind and become delicious prey for the lions. Sometimes they run away just because they see the buffalo next to them running without even knowing why they are running?

I think the reason for running because of “herd mentality” is worth mentioning. The behavior of following the crowd is probably one of the most “animal” social behaviors of humans. It shows spontaneity and disorganization. Participants are easily provoked so the behavior can go beyond control (beating a dog thief), or reveal an animal nature of fighting over food (stealing). To have a natural “brake”, we need to create good habits ourselves.

It seems that people no longer trust each other. Customers lose faith in businesses when many companies cheat, sell fake and low-quality goods. Parents lose faith in "tiger nurses" after nannies beat children. People lose faith in officials when major corruption cases are gradually exposed. The most unfortunate thing that people are having to endure is that people lose faith in each other but still have to live and smile...

If each person lights his own fire of passion, the fire of noble love, then I believe the future will still be bright. Whether the light can dispel the darkness or not depends on how many people carry the torch, not how many people do not. Shine your own light, because a small flame can be recognized in the surrounding darkness. Just believe that.

Nguyen Ngoc Hoa

(Sent from Kyoto, Japan)