Consequences

A long time ago (5-10 years) I overheard my mother talking to my aunt. Apparently my cousin came home from high school and threatened to kill another student. I heard my mother saying "You just have to make it clear to him that he can't do that." I disagree with that. I wish I got a chance to talk to my cousin about it but I didn't see him much in those days. If I had the opportunity I would have advised him that yes, he could kill that person if he wanted to if he was willing to suffer the consequences. Are you willing to trade your future for theirs. If so it is easy enough to kill a person. I've thought about this myself in my youth. I weighed my reasons for killing, logical, emotional, societal against my future. When you think about all the things that could happen your life it is usually an easy decision to choose the latter. I just don't think it is a good idea to tell someone. especially a rebellious teenager, that they can't do something. Especially if your reason is 'because it is wrong' or 'you just can't.' It reminds me of what Jack Sparrow said: 'The only rules that really matter are these: what a man can do and what a man can't do.' We all CAN do all kinds of things. Should we?, that depends on cost. You call the tune, you pay the piper.