SUNDAY THOUGHTS : CONSEQUENCES

I do NOT like scary, blood-and-gore movies, but at the end of “Alligator II: The Mutation” (I still can’t believe I was watching), the bullying, intimidating, arrogant, entitled, rich guy, Vinnie Brown—who: surrounded himself with yes-men, 

had politicians and law-enforcement officers in his pocket, 

made ordinary citizens miserable, 

poisoned everything he touched, 

threw good people under the bus, 

defrauded and swindled people for his own gain, and made sniveling cowards out of once principled men—well…he was EATEN by the ginormous alligator that his orchestrated, unchecked corruption and deliberate pollution helped create.

The carnage was a sight, but I admit, there was something strangely satisfying, or even reassuring about it. I do believe I uttered an involuntary “Umm hmmm…see there?”

It was like watching a fable play out, that suddenly addressed the current events I’d been trying to avoid, with lessons and morals that jumped through the screen: 

Trouble won’t last always. 

The principle of sowing and reaping, isn’t merely a financial one.

There’s always something, or someone, bigger and badder than you.

The very pain and suffering you try to inflict upon others, may one day overtake you.

No one gets away with anything.

Punishment isn’t always meted out in a courtroom. 

Understand—I don’t wish harm on anyone. Hatred, revenge, gloating, and retaliation, take way too much energy, and are self destructive. What I do feel, however, is pity, and a sense of dread, in anticipation of the unfortunate fall or demise of people who are feeling pretty important, invincible, and powerful right now, but are clearly unaware of the grace they’re being shown, as they relentlessly antagonize and harm others. 

It’s hard to hate even evil people, when you know their ride won’t end well. History should be a sober reminder of what happens when people go too far. 

Being bombarded every day with nonsense, ignorance, lies, threats, chaos, and uncertainty, isn’t healthy, and you would think that people—particularly those who have so much—could think of better ways to occupy themselves. 

Preserve your peace as much as possible. 

Hopefully, it won’t be you, dear reader, but somebody’s going to snap, pretty soon—just like that alligator—and people who tried to warn, will just stand back and watch in amazement, while feeling no sympathy at all…just like the people in the movie.