rant 1
Recently an auntie asked me, fully knowing my parents were sitting right next to me, were my parents tough? I never gave a sound answer because my parents would immediately nod their heads and the auntie would tell she identifies one. In fact, she tells me deep inside she is a fierce tiger despite her mere goody-two-shoes appearance. Hearing it rubbed me off the wrong way. I thought there was nothing to be proud of claiming you are fierce.
She tells me, as a parent, she was initially worried her son wouldn't carry the fierce trait of her; unable to fight back when shit hits the fan. Turns out this was nothing to be worried about since her son would get caught in high school brawls. It was a 'fight or don't fight you get attacked' dilemma. Hearing the anecdote, I started wondering if being fierce actually works in shaping character? A bittersweet feeling. If that is the case, why does it feel like the end does not justify the means?