The Injustice of Inaction - Daily Ramblings

Americans are familiar with the quote, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing". It has been a rallying cry to justify our wars and to celebrate our independence. The Stoics, however, wrote about this concept thousands of years prior to this famous quote in regards to everyday life.

We as people like to pride ourselves when we see an injustice in this world by decrying it with a, "if I was there I would not let that happen!" As if we are some moral Superman who is able to write all wrongs in this word if we were only there to do something about it. But I don't think many of us would. 

I don't think we are capable in many cases to stand up to true injustice because we don't do the things in our own lives to prevent injustice. For example, if I don't take care of my body through exercise and nutrition there is a real chance that my family will have to suffer injustice when I become sick or hurt and they must care for me. If I do not give my best at work my employer suffers the injustice of having a company which is not as great as it could be. If I don't train my mind I will suffer the injustice when suffering strikes and I don't know how to rightly think through and handle it.

I am convinced that much of the suffering we face as humans are not because of something we have done, or someone else has done, but rather a result of what we haven't done. We don't train ourselves to do the things which are slightly difficult on a daily basis, so we are not prepared to do something when confronted with true evil and suffering.

Today, do something difficult! Right a small injustice in your life. Someone is depending on you!