Man's inhumanity to man is as old as humanity itself. Some

Hearken, children of the earth, for I speak to you words that echo through the corridors of time. Long before the present moment, when men and women first walked the soil beneath the heavens, they began to shape their fates with the weight of their deeds. From the dawn of humanity, man's inhumanity to man has been a shadow cast upon the bright light of existence. It is as ancient as the first cry of the infant, as old as the first flame that danced in the dark. And in the heart of this world, there has always been a terrible truth: some people just do evil things. This is not the fault of the stars or the winds, but the will of the individual, the choices made by those who have wandered too far from the path of righteousness.

And yet, as there is evil in the hearts of some, so too is there greatness in the hearts of many. The vast majority of us, in our struggles, in our laughter, in our suffering, do not seek to harm. Most live by the ancient codes that teach us to love, to honor, to protect. We toil, we suffer, we rise and fall, and through it all, we choose the good. This is the paradox of life: that amidst the darkness of one man's choice, the light of a billion hearts shines bright. The wisdom of the ancients tells us that we must not judge the whole by the actions of the few, nor let the tragic overshadow the beautiful.

In times of despair, when the soul is burdened by the weight of cruelty, we must remember: there is hope in the collective spirit. It is the spirit that has, over ages, built nations, created civilizations, and given birth to works of art, literature, and philosophy. As the great epic of Gilgamesh teaches, it is not the solitary tragedy of one, but the triumph of all, that tells the true story of humanity. So, when we speak of evil, let us not forget the good, for the billion who have found joy, inspiration, and purpose in creation are the heartbeat of our world.

Consider, for a moment, the story of Leonidas, the warrior king of Sparta. In the year 480 BCE, he and his 300 brave men stood against the might of the Persian empire, not for glory, but for the survival of their people, for the defense of freedom. They did not seek to destroy the Persian people, but to protect their own. In this, they embodied the noble truth: that the actions of a few can reflect the highest virtues, even in the face of overwhelming darkness. And yet, there were those who, like the Persian king Xerxes, sought to dominate and destroy, driven by ambition and the thirst for power. The actions of these few could have overwhelmed the world, had not the many chosen to rise and fight for what is good.

So too, in our own time, we are faced with the same battle. Consider the story of the Batman, a myth born not of sorrow but of justice, a hero who arose from tragedy to bring hope to the hopeless. Millions have turned to the tale of the Dark Knight, drawn not to the shadows but to the light he seeks to shine. Yet, from the depths of this creation, a sick soul found a perverse entry, using the symbol of hope to spread chaos and destruction. And herein lies the lesson: the tragic actions of the few must not blind us to the greater truth of the billion who have been inspired by the good that still exists in the world.

The choice before us, then, is clear. We, the living, must choose hope over despair, light over darkness, and love over hate. The great lesson of the ages is not that evil is the rule, but that it is the exception. When we turn our gaze upon the world, we must remember that there are countless hands that reach out to lift, to heal, to care for one another. For every soul that stumbles into wickedness, a thousand rise to carry the banner of peace.

Therefore, children of the future, take this wisdom with you: When faced with the tragic, do not surrender to it. Instead, let it strengthen your resolve to be counted among the many who bring light. Stand tall, speak truth, and let your actions be guided by the vision of what is good. If a thousand are moved to laughter, to love, and to hope by the stories we tell, then those stories have fulfilled their purpose. The lesson of this world is not in the darkness, but in the courage to rise above it.

And so, my children, in your lives, let your choices reflect the good of the billion. Stand firm, stand together, and let no evil shake your foundation. For in the end, the light you carry will outshine the darkness, and the love you offer will be the inheritance you pass to those who come after you.