Ignorance

White. Society would usually interpret this color as synonymous to purity, without stain, without fault or one who is innocent, one who is good in nature. People possessing these traits are considered rare ever since the beginning of time for we humans are concupiscent in nature and our constantly changing times force us to be more vulnerable to answer the ever enticing call to sin. We understand innocent people as people who are less vulnerable to committing mistakes that will tarnish their consciences, or simply, people who are inexperienced when it comes to doing bad things. People of innocence are often considered as people of harmless intent, people that are of no threat whatsoever. Innocence is the state of not being guilty of anything, the freedom from evil or from wrongdoings. Individuals possessing this trait are put on a pedestal, their distinct characteristic being a luxury only very precious few can afford.

Like children they are playful, encouraged by their basic understanding of things. The moral values that their parents worked hard develop protect them from the harsh reality that they live in. They answer questions based on their still sound consciences. They are carefree and without worries, enjoying life as if it was just a stroll in the park, taking it in as if it were the sweetest candy they would ever have.  They are prone to and totally unaware of the infinite dangers lurking at every corner, surrounding them almost entirely.

Like flocks of sheep, they follow obediently where their shepherd takes them, asking little or no questions at all. They surrender their well-being to the hands that feed them, protect and guide them. They feel safe, satisfied and comfortable in their unpredictable environment. They trust more easily being less suspicious of people or circumstances that would already pose as dire threats when seen by trained eyes.

It is understandable why the society looks at such people with much admiration, why their status is considered as good as having gold for it is very easy for people to lose their status of innocence. No number of deeds no matter how great they may be will be enough to buy back one’s lost innocence. It is a definite truth that once innocence is lost, it will remain lost. But being in the rebellious and questioning stage that I am in right now, I cannot help but argue against the reasoning behind this old time belief that most people have. I have seen numerous examples of how possessing this trait may prove to be very fatal to one’s well-being, doing more harm than good. I simply cannot accept the fact that innocence, in its entirety, is given such a high value.

Like children they are fragile, depending too much on other people. They are still in the long process of figuring out how things work in the world they are born in. They rely on their parent figures, those that take time to care for them. They know little of their environment, the factors and variables that are present around them that may have indirect or direct effects on their well-being. They are, to some extent, apathetic. People would often find their cluelessness cute and adorable. They are dependent on their possessed instinct that there would always be people around them that will look out for their safety and well being. In the absence of the people they depend on they are left clueless. They may not be stupid but they are highly inexperienced putting them at a grave disadvantage. Without people spoon feeding them of the essential information they need to live well in a crowd, they will standout like sore thumbs, not capable of defending themselves against the rest of the world. They are playful, prone to several common possibilities such as getting injured, getting lost. Their treasured moral values and sound consciences doing nothing to help them and the best they can do when faced with these circumstances is cry and wait for someone to help them out of their predicament. They have eyes that do not comprehend as well as they see for they lack worldly experience to perceive things for what they really are.

Like a flock of sheep, they are in constant need of guiding and protecting. They follow obediently without question to wherever, if they’re lucky, they will only be stripped of their precious fleece with or without their consent but if they’re not so lucky they are killed for their meat, the shepherd guiding them straight into either the shepherd’s pocket or the shepherd’s mouth. But without their shepherd, they will be eaten up by the abyss of unfamiliarity. Not to mention being very prone to the ever present wolves that are abundant nowadays and are very much ready to take advantage and kill.

I bid the readers of my thoughts and opinion not to judge me so quickly, instead, I ask the readers to first try to understand. I am not condemning people of innocence, nor am I saying that it’s better to become sinners. I come from a Catholic school that does not fall anywhere short of instilling good moral values and molding its students into God-fearing people. But not everything can be learned in the confines of the comfort zones that some of us so conveniently and comfortably reside in. Also, these comfort zones cannot possibly protect us from every obstacle, every circumstance that life throws at us. We cannot escape the fact that life is hard, challenging and seemingly unbearable at times. Life, real life, not the one that is sugar-coated and the world, the real world, where everything is present, good or bad, is the best classroom and lesson we can ever have.