What does it truly mean to be innocent? In this context, innocence transcends the childlike ignorance of youth; it denotes a state free from guilt in condoning, perpetuating, or endorsing evil. The prevailing notion that a government alone should dispense justice, branding those who take matters into their own hands as vigilantes, hampers the efforts of organized patriots seeking to eradicate corruption.
How does one maintain innocence in a society that penalizes the righteous for holding evildoers accountable? How does one stay blameless in a society that outlaws the pursuit of justice by those with noble intentions?
The challenge arises when subjected to laws that shield wrongdoers from justice, branding those who refuse to passively observe as vigilantes. In essence, vigilantism becomes a just response when a government itself is meant to serve justice.
Presently, we navigate a system that compels us to shoulder responsibility for the actions of the malevolent. Anything other than passive observation invites punishment, making it nearly impossible to maintain innocence under such conditions. In today's society, a young person seeking to preserve their innocence is met with a potential death sentence. A society claiming to champion freedom and liberty cannot thrive under such oppressive circumstances.
To conclude, as we age, we become more implicated in the state of our society. Turning a blind eye to its shortcomings only serves to endorse, condone, and perpetuate evil. Our society, claiming justice and righteousness, ironically implicates the young in guilt through association with unjust policies. True strength lies in unity—standing together against injustice.