Let me take you on a journey through the thick jungle, past the mossy vines, across the river of dreams, to a valley where lies a village, a village that bore evil.<\/p>\n
The villagers lived peacefully in the valley.\u00a0 There was abundance of fruits and vegetables, everyone was housed and fed, the children played among the bed of daisies, and the older villagers often gathered, smiled, laughed and enjoyed each other\u2019s company. \u00a0When it came nighttime, the families would hustle back into their homes, and sit by a fire, eat their dinner and talk about their day\u2019s work. \u00a0The villagers tended to stick to their valley, comfortable with knowing what they know there. \u00a0After all, things are good, everything flowed and ran smoothly, so why question it?<\/p>\n
However, there was one family in particular who had very curious children, there names were Lia, Tom and Jake. Tom and Jake were the older twin brothers to Lia, who is 5 years younger.\u00a0 They often played together amongst the grassy hill in their backyard. And while this may be the story of creation of evil, it is also this family\u2019s story.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know what I think? What if we went to the river! The sight must be beautiful! Jake exclaimed loudly to his siblings.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe, buts it fun here too isn\u2019t it?\u201d Said Tom.<\/p>\n
\u201cI bet there are pretty mermaids by that river,\u201d Lia said with wonder in her eyes.\u00a0 Tom and Jake both looked at her, and while didn\u2019t believe in mermaids, they knew with no doubt in their minds, if it made their sister happy, they would do it. They were going to the river, by the forest edge.\u00a0 They all clumsily ran through the daisy bed, the colours of the grass became darker longer, everything around them became more unruly.\u00a0 Tom nervously grabbed Jake\u2019s hand, \u201cAre you sure about this?\u201d Jake looked back, and said, \u201cIts something we never have done before, so why not do it?\u201d They both looked ahead and continued towards the river.<\/p>\n
As they approached the river, they took it all in, the luminescence of the river mist, the sparkles of water droplets on tree leaves running along the river. As they approached the river and looked down on it, something began to form. \u00a0A distorted image formed in the water, it seemed to show something.\u00a0 What was formed, did not make sense to the three of them, as it was something they have never seen before let alone its existence. But for the readers (you) sake, I will explain it.\u00a0 It was images of war, blood and death, of a past that was long forgotten. \u00a0The river of dreams was showing history of a past lifetime. The children looked up wide -eyed, not understanding, and took it all in.\u00a0 While they did not understand what was going on, the negative energy swirled around the three kids, almost as if it clung to them. \u00a0They left the river, with the negative aura that continued swirling in and out of the kids.<\/p>\n
They went home and spoke nothing of it.\u00a0 But as days went on, things began to change.\u00a0 Their play fights became more violent, there were more arguments, and their hatred towards one another grew, until one day, the worst came to happen. Tom had killed Jake in a fight.<\/p>\n
The village soon began to dissipate of what it once was.\u00a0 People had to lock their doors at night, in case of thieves and worry if there was enough food on the table due to greed from some more than others. \u00a0Before long, evil had taken root and suffocated the village.\u00a0 Evil was born.<\/p>\n
Now this story, saw the village changing after a couple children were exposed to an image in the river. The horrible story told in the image had out powered what was already there, and took a hold.\u00a0 People started behaving like the story, and had turned into the image.\u00a0 What I learned about a story telling is, that they have the power to influence the thoughts and behaviours of its reader.\u00a0 Chimamandu Adichie had explained it in her Ted Talk, about the \u201cDangers of a Single Story.<\/a>\u00a0 Stories are powerful, they have the capability of making people as one thing, a stereotype. \u00a0What is unfortunate is, those who are economically and socially powerful (the West) have the ability to overcome all other stories, meaning their story would become reality.\u00a0 We are what we see in the media.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How we overcome our ignorance is by rejecting the story of the masses, and opening up to others as well.\u00a0\u00a0 As Chimamandu says, \u201cWhen we reject the single story, we regain a kind of paradise.\u201d<\/p>\n