Having goals and attaining them is a good thing but there is a point where we have to draw the line at the cost. Is it worth it to hurt other people to reach our goals?
The question is often posed “do the ends justify the means?” Theseus had a goal of becoming a hero much like Hercules. However, while in search to attain his goal he failed to think of others in his climb to the top. Does wanting to be a hero for all of the wrong reasons still make someone a hero?
The modern definition of a hero is one who is distinguished with ability, admired for their deeds and noble qualities. One can question whether or not Theseus had noble qualities. The princess of Crete betrayed her family to help Theseus and the children of Athens and she was left on a deserted beach for her reward. In the end she was ok; the god Dionysus brought her with him in his journeys. However, Theseus didn’t know this nor by the evidence presented did he care.
As well when Theseus’ wife claimed to have been violated he didn’t look at the whole picture. He immediately rushed to anger and had his own son killed to seek vengeance for his deceased wife who had lied.
Doing what we can to reach our goals is a noble thing. From the time we are children we are told to have goals and in achieving them we will be happier. However, if we step on other people to get to where we want to be does it justify our happiness? Or are we doomed to fail as punishment for our past crimes?
Corporate America is the big generalized bad guy. Gone are the days of my grandparents when there was nothing but small family run operations where you could talk to the owner directly on a first name basis. These large companies have ultimate goals of making money and having a strong hold on the consumers that they live off of but at what cost? Almost every day news channels announce some company making cuts to pensions, pay rates and health insurance making it harder for the average American to put food on the table while those that sit on the board of trustees get a little heavier around the waist. It as the age old saying states; the rich get richer and the poor keep getting poorer. At the same time pay rates and benefits are cut the price of needed items go up. Corporations step on the backs of their employees to reach the top. When they fall is it deserved? Or is that just the way the world is; the strong survive on the weak as if they are an expendable commodity? There is a point where we should draw the line but where that line is drawn is up to us.
