Lord of the Flies is a book about loosing the veneer of civilization.

I have come through a lot of things that would have made another person bitter and angry. Now, I do have a temper. But it is usually targeted at injustice and unfairness of the world and at others who are cruel or unjust.

I believe we can rise above those baser instincts within ourselves...it is a matter of choice. I see the bullys or the liars in life....and I see that they have chosen to be that way. To me, they are not civilized.

I would like to read them. I have pondered why some seem to be born 'bad' and others rise above the worst possible circumstances. I love the psychological aspect of these types of novels. The human mind is so very complicated. I responded to another discussion on here that claimed animals were higher life forms than humans. I disagree. I love animals and believe that they can teach us much if we pay attention. But the human mind is so much more complicated and for that reason it is not easy to understand. Animals on the other hand...just do what is good for them, they have built in programs for survival. Man often does things that are contrary to his and his species survival.

I'll look for those books. I'm going shopping at amazon.com as soon as we get paid here on the lot...btw...when is payday?

They're both juveniles (at least I was able to read them as a teenager), but they're both still two of my favorite reads after all these years.

I'd disagree with whoever said that about animals also.

I remember a discussion that my mom got involved in. She was talking about helping the poor, and saying that if the government didn't step in, people would never be able to improve their circumstances. Somebody pointed out to her that her family had been fairly poor and she'd managed to make something of herself. She replied that many people had no way to find a way out. So I have caught myself pondering the same thing. Why can one people rise above and others can't.

There was an advice column letter yesterday from a woman who had two sons and one of them was a total user and when she called him on it, he basically decided to withhold her grandchildren from her as punishment. Her other other son is a really good guy. Sometimes, even with the best of parenting, a person goes wrong. Or the opposite.

Some day maybe we'll figure it all out!

PS we usually get paid on or around the 10th.

cool...thanks

I know what you mean about kids being raised by same parents and same values and one being a looser and the other being a responsible person. Believe me, I know.

yeah, you do your best, but sometimes bad friends, bad whatever...

It is what it is.