There are moments in life, when you are thrown a question and you are stumped for an answer.
Last night, my student, Anmol, send me a message saying, “Teacher, Mummy and Daddy told me that there are bad people in real life like they show in the movies. Is it true?’
Now, this question hit me real hard, because Anmol is 30 years old. He is differently abled but quite functional. He has attended college and loves to interact with people. How was it then he was still so naїve and innocent ?
Image by Mo Farrelly from Pixabay
Though I know his brain does not process things like neurotypical people, it only now struck me with force, how different he was. “How does he see the world?” I wondered. “Is it a good thing or a bad thing that he still believes in the goodness of humans? What should I answer?”
After pondering over it, I told him. “Yes, there are bad people in the world. But there are also good people. The good people will never hurt you or force you to do something bad. Or tell you to keep secrets from your parents. The people who are bad will be the ones who make fun of you, want to force you to do things, like the boys in college who tried to pour alcohol down your throat (which he seemed to have forgotten).
Sometimes it is difficult to know who is good and who is bad. Besides your family, there are people who love you and will never hurt you. You know who they are. But with strangers, it might be difficult. So maybe you need to keep a distance till you know them better and know you can trust them. If you are not sure, talk to your mom and dad.
Sometimes people may not do bad things to you; they may do bad things to others, like they may kick dogs and think it is a joke. Avoid such people because good people are always kind.”
I don’t know if this was the best advice or not or even how much he is going to remember. Sigh! If only everyone was a “good” person; kind and caring, compassionate and loving. But right from the beginning of time, there has been good and evil and we all need to accept and understand this, if we are to survive in this world.
That however did not mean it didn’t break my heart to take away his rose tinted glasses. I wish with all my heart, that I could spare him this knowledge and let him keep his innocence and naїvety.
This is such a beautiful response, Sunita. I wish we lived in a world that was kinder and where this question would never have arisen. But alas, ours is a world that only seems to be getting harsher with each passing day.
Heartfelt ! You beautifully captured the bittersweet responsibility of guiding innocence . The best part is , you preserved hope and trust in humanity
It broke my heart reading about the forcibly pouring alcohol down the throat part. How can people be so insensitive doing it to somebody? My heart goes out for Anmol.
D asked me similar question when he was 5 or 6 and I din’t know how to explain it well to a young child. I wish I had the wisdom of this post at that time.
I’ve been thinking about him since you shared this with us, Sunita. I’m glad he has people like you in his life. I hope that he encounters more good than bad people.
This post stirred me. Especially, the part where alcohol was poured down his throat. We humans are probably the worst creation on earth. Will share this with my friend whose son is 22 years old and in the spectrum.
Such a sweet way of sharing the truth and yet retaining his faith in humans.
Thankyou for sharing Sunita.
Bhuma Iyer: True.
We being fully abled are not able to decipher who is good and who is bad as people are camouflaging their real self.
How will a differently able child or people understand the difference.
True that. I just wish, though I know it is just fanciful, wishful thinking that we could let them hold on to their idealistic world view.