Is it Right or Wrong?

The sound of chalk scrapes across the chalkboard in a college classroom full of students. Almost yelling, Derek, a frustrated student, stands up and ask a question. "Is it right or wrong? Good, or bad? Yes, or no?"

The professor takes his time finishing writing on the chalkboard, then turns around and gently reads what he's written aloud.

"For there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."

"Give me a straight answer!, Derek shouts back. "If I punch you in the face right now is it right or wrong, good or bad?"

"Okay," replies the professor. "What if you punch yourself in the face? Is that right or wrong?"

"Give me a straight fucking answer! Yes, or no!," The frustrated student relentlessly snaps back.

Marielena, a beautiful young girl in her mid twenties, raises her hand. The professor acknowledges her with a warm smile and nod of the head as she stands up, faces the angry student, looks him in the eyes, and begins to speak. "Do you want the truth or do you just want people to agree with your opinion? I believe he's given you a straight answer. It's just not the answer you want to hear. Maybe he wants you to think more about why you are asking the question."

The professor smiles and nods his head. Infuriated by the professor's smile, Derek sarcastically responds, "So you're telling me that it's ok if I come down there and beat the shit out of you?"

"Is it okay if you 'beat the crap' out of yourself?", the professor calmly answers back with another question.

The students in the classroom snicker as Derek gets even more angry. He looks down in confusion and frustration. The professor lets the room be silent as he walks across the front of the class and then addresses the class again.

"Why do we believe what we believe?, he asks and keeps going not waiting for an answer. "Is it because our parents taught us things and everyone knows their parents are always right." The students chuckle and the professor continues. "We all have personal beliefs based on our unique life experiences. We all have cultural beliefs that derive from where we are from. People also really like to be right. They form groups that share the same beliefs and interest to make them feel safe and right. The more people that agree on something the more right it seems to them. As the saying goes, 'birds of a feather flock together'. People are fearful of others that are different then themselves. There's too much uncertainty when others talk differently, act differently, believe differently, and on and on."

"Basically," the professor continues. "Our minds are meaning making machines that make meaning out of any and everything regardless whether there is meaning or not. And then we go around looking for things to prove ourselves right. Because we like to be right. It feels good."

"Derek, to answer your question, you are right. It's wrong to hit me because we've made laws that say it's wrong and it's widely believed and accepted." Derek smiles, sits back in his chair feeling good for being right.

David, a quirky young man, shyly raises his hand as he looks around the room. The professor is a little shocked to see the shy student wanting to speak.

"David," the professor calls him out. "What do you think?"

David rises to his feet and looks around the room again. He has a speech impediment and is nervous speaking in the class.

"Ma may maybe it's also about how we feel. La la like, if we have negative feelings, we we do bad things and if we have positive feelings we do ga ga good things."

"Okay," the professor says as he thinks for a second. "But, what controls our feelings?"

David looks at Caroline and then shyly looks away. "I I I don't know. I I mean, they just ha happen and we have to do our best to da da deal with them."

"So, you're saying that we can't control our feelings? That they just... happen?" the professor ask.

"Yeah," David continues, "I I I mean, if you look at how ma ma messed up this world is and all the crime and greed it's impossible not to get upset. Just turn on the na na news. It's everywhere."

"Ah. The news." sighs the professor. "Now that's some really depressing stuff there. Sometimes, I think their main goal is to make sure you lock your door every night, live in fear, and not trust anyone you don't know. But, no matter how deep the ocean, your ship won't sink unless you let the water in. Just because a thought passes through our mind doesn't mean we have to believe it and then have an emotional reaction to it. What essentially are thoughts anyway? Are they not just perceptions, opinions, reflections of experiences we’ve had. Have we not been taught everything we believe? Look at how perspectives and opinions have changed as science and technology advances. People used to think the earth is flat. There is always a lot more we don't know than we ever will."

"I would like all of you to practice an exercise of just being more aware of your thoughts and try not to believe them. You may be shocked to discover that your brain is very gullible and will believe anything you feed it. So let's feed it good stuff that will produce good results."

The students start packing up their notebooks, pens, laptops and other supplies. The professor looks at the timer on his desk. The green light is now red.

"Have a great weekend everyone and be safe." the professor says dismissing the class. "And Derek, thank you for not punching me in the face."

The students chuckle as they start to get up and shuffle out of the classroom. When the room clears, one student, David, is still seated in his chair deep in thought.