Very few people are strictly one or the other. I don't believe in the theory of original sin. That we're all born inherently evil and have to struggle the rest of our lives to prove otherwise. I think everyone starts out as a clean slate. Blank pages waiting to be written. The pen that shapes our lives is filled with different colors of ink ­ religion, family, society, genetics, health. All of us have the capacity to do evil things. Things that could be considered selfish or hurtful, that later make us feel guilty for having done them. Oddly enough, that guilt sort of reins people in and steers them toward doing the right thing. The good thing.

But true evil? Evil for the sake of itself? I think . . . it's hurting something or someone, either physically or emotionally, for profit or power or the shear joy of it. Right now that Evil is the face of Daniel. His brave new world is built with an iron fist. With pain and fear and death. So many people have suffered because of Daniel and his forces. So many lives lost. Men. Women. Children. Just building blocks to power.

Good is doing what has to be done to help others, no matter the cost. No matter the risk. It is love and sacrifice and being willing to endure hardship, even pain, to do what's right. It's lending a hand to a neighbor or offering a stranger a smile, just for the simple joy of it. Without strings attached.

Good people often do bad things but it doesn't make them evil. Evil ­ real evil ­ has no capacity to do good. Because it lacks the key ingredients: love and compassion.