We’re all in control of our actions

by Mike Fauls

Upon watching a movie in my English 11 class, I’ve had a sudden infatuation with the brain and how it works. Like if you see the word “blue” typed in a red color, your mind says “red” even if the word is blue.

The movie was about criminal minds and why people do certain things at certain times. Whether it’s stress related, or certain instincts just drive our inner being to go nuts, it happens and we really don’t know why. The question is, do we really have control over this?

Some people would say no, it’s just human instinct. I don’t agree with this theory, though. Like Hitler, for example. Was he fully in control, or was he just victim of his human instincts? And, if so, then would a small apology to the Jews in the Holocaust suffice? I could see the conversation now:
Hitler: “Oh, hey, sorry about you guys and the whole genocide thing. I just couldn’t stop my instincts from taking over.”
Jewish people: “Oh, it’s okay. C’mon were having a Batmitzfa for my niece.”
Hitler: “Oh, hey, thanks. Let’s go, new best friend!”
…and they’d skip off into the horizon like in Wizard of Oz.

The example wasn’t to make light of the atrocity the Holocaust was in any way, shape or form, it was simply to illustrate what I think the folly of calling those things “human instincts” is.

The fact is that you don’t have control over everything, it just doesn’t work that way, but you do have control of what your actions are and when you control yourself. If someone were to murder your best friend, he’d still be a murderer. Despite what human instincts took the murderer over, he’s still a murderer, no questions asked. Right?