By Vincent Van Ross

I am not trying to plagiarise the “Theory of Evolution” by Charles Darwin! But, this is also in some way a theory of evolution. Though, of a different kind!

When God made man, he wanted man to lead a carefree life and enjoy the fruits of the Garden of Eden (Paradise). But, by tasting the forbidden fruit, he committed the cardinal sin and he was shown the door.

Similarly, everything was fine. Everything was positive. Until Lucifer became the fallen angel; and, went on to become Satan (the Devil).

Some attribute the faculty of pessimism and criticism to imagination of the devil’s workshop.

While some people see a glass half-filled with water, the same may be viewed as a half-empty glass by others. Sorry, I am using a profusely soiled and oiled example. But, nothing exemplifies optimism and pessimism as effectively as this example.

I hate certain parties. Particularly, where I am obliged to go, more to show my face and register my presence than anything else. The problem with such parties is that the only person you know besides your host is yourself. Your host is usually busy with scores of guests and he cannot afford to offer you company till you leave. That puts you in a very awkward situation.

In one such party, my host introduced me to someone who was in the same boat as I. At first, we found comfort in each other’s company. Then, we got philosophical. He said, he wanted to hear from me on what I felt about this world.

I talked of the wonderful things that God has created. He interrupted my discourse and asked me to restrict my philosophy to Man.

I told him how God has given us two eyes to see and enjoy all the beautiful things he has created; how he has given us a nose to smell and distinguish between odour from fragrance; how he has provided two ears to discern between noise and music; how he has endowed us with a mouth to savour the delicacies of this world. How he has…

I do not know what I did to anger him. But, he cut me short. And, he began his own discourse as I watched him with openmouthed astonishment. He said: “I have two eyes which cannot see themselves…one nose which cannot smell itself…two ears which cannot hear themselves…a mouth which cannot eat itself… Just tell me, what is so great about it?”

I was very disturbed. That was too heavy a dose of pessimism for one evening. I moved away from him. I excused myself from my host and moved out of the party. I am not an escapist. But, I was just beginning to enjoy the day when this happened. I didn’t want to ruin my day.

That day I realized that it takes all kinds of people to make this world. For the first time I felt that day that perhaps critics are born out of pessimists. Not all of them. There are some who engage in constructive criticism. But, this one was certainly not one of them!