In the words of renowned writer and
thinker, Napoleon Hill, "Lack of loyalty is one of the major causes of
failure in every walk of life." Loyalty, the noble and idealistic quality
we wish existed in all of us through the thick-and-thinks of life, comes in
many forms: we are faithful to our loved ones, to the greater institution to
which we belong, and perhaps we may also commit ourselves to our hearts. However,
there is a danger to excessive loyalty like all things in life. Loyalty must
never be trusted and followed without being questioned, for misused loyalty can
harm and wreck havoc if not kept in check.
During the years of the World War I
(1914~1918), millions of innocent people were murdered by Adolf Hitler, the
leader of the Nazi party. Although an estimated number of 11 million people
were killed in the horror known as the Holocaust, Hitler did not personally
kill many himself. He authorized the mass extermination of Jew and other
minorities. The Nazi soldier, without taking their own opinion into
consideration, blinded themselves with loyalty and killed countless innocent
lives. Loyalty is sometimes misused in such ways and causes millions of deaths.
However, loyalty is also abandoned in other cases.
There was a terrible story on the
news about a murder of a young girl, allegedly by two brothers, who have since
been arrested. Ironically, it was their mother who realized their treacherous
involvement and turned her own sons in. This tragic story illustrates a perfect
example for how family loyalty sometimes must be abandoned for the justice. If
the mother had not turned her own sons in due to her sense of obligation to
protect them from suffering, the boys would not have realized the grave crime
they had committed against humankind by killing their own sister. Despite all
the reasons to protect her son from shame, guilt, and more, the mother chose to
abandon loyalty for fairness.
Loyalty is a rich characteristic
which is essential for peace, love, or any other relationships. It is indeed
one of the most important characteristics we must all have which brings many
benefits along with it. Nevertheless, it also causes millions of lives and
injuries if misused. Loyalty must always be paired with what we feel and think
is right. In addition, loyalty must be questioned and challenged, as did the
mother who turned in her own sons for the murder of her daughter. Blind
commitment to what we perceive to be correct causes more suffering and halts
progress and development in all aspects of life. Loyalty without ethics is
futile.
Link
to the news article about the two brothers killing their own sister.
http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/girl-allegedly-killed-by-brothers-for-marrying-against-family-approval-246970
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