By Jan Vicente B. Pekas
In the ever-harsh region of the Arctic, climate change persists in destroying the cold, cruel and beautiful ice of the North Pole. And along with the people down south, polar bears suffer from attacks by an invisible tyrant. A phantom menace that continues to melt the ice they call home. An unstoppable force capable of devastating cities, provinces, and countries.
Even further down south, where seabirds call home, the rising heat is proving to be too much for the ancient ice of Antarctica. Day by day, the residents, the penguins, continue to live a life already ridden with risks. If the crumbling ice does not kill them, the predators swimming in the sea will. After all, despite the already dwindling size of their home, they must also fight against starvation.
It is when they start to search for delicacies that the penguins must go into the sea, hunt for their desired fishes and go back home. But, they are not alone in the waters. Seals and killer whales also patrol the sea in search for food. And it just so happens that penguins are listed in their menu.
‘Tis when the birds gather that they show surprisingly human traits, hesitation and fear. Instead of looking for food, they start to amass into a crowd near the shore. The predators out in the sea have instilled that much fear in them. But it is during this time that the first penguin steps forward. The first penguin leaps into the cold sea, territory of their killers, and after him would follow the dozen hungry birds. A single penguin leading the charge.
Just when they let fear take over, they show a rather admirable quality. Another trait which shows so much resemblance to a human. Quite similar to the first person who stepped forward and defended democracy in Ukraine. The first person who stepped forward in his own domain against the tyrant in Russia. A single step is all but easy, but under a good man’s lead, others will follow. When evil lies in front of us, it is only natural to step forward and put an end to it. The effects and consequences can be risky, scary and really bad. But when faced against evil, hesitation and fear must be overcome.
There is nothing to fear in leading a charge for something noble. Good men and women have done it before. As a result, freedom and democracy dominate God’s green earth. Even a remarkable quote was created as a result: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”. Evil still survives. But thankfully, men and women of noble character exist by the dozen. Be the first person to step forward. Be the first penguin.**
