There are patterns in movies that appear to be very true in the real world, at least according to public news and media (if you can label that as real world).

Villains, who have no moral or just backing for their opinion or actions, are the most aggressive in enforcing their attitude, behavior, or control. Heroes tend to hyper aggression only when pushed by villains to stand against their aggression and/or for moral values. It is almost like you can measure villains and heroes by the amount of intimidation and manipulation used to accomplish their will. Intimidation and manipulation feel free to use lies, deceit, and accomplices to achieve a goal.

This begins at a very young age. Children manipulate, tell the “truth” they want believed, and gather mob support, “everyone is doing it,” before they understand how they learned those techniques might work to get them what they want. Those techniques may be unattractive in a child trying to get dessert before dinner, but they are an abomination for adults who use the same techniques to gain power, money, and prestige.

I am not one of those who believe that the end justifies the means. I believe the means justify or destroys the end result. Moral and ethical values create an outcome worth having, where the other will build layers of destruction into its outcome that will hurt many or all. Hitler, as always, is a textbook example of a villain and a villain’s process. You can see him in the little “Hitlers” in the work force or family to world leaders. The process is identifiable because the pattern, scaled up or down, is clear, “I will do what needs to be done to get what I want.”

Heroes, depending on the level of self sacrifice they are willing to give, process in the opposite direction. They prefer moral and ethical values over personal preferences. They will sacrifice themselves more than requiring others to sacrifice for them. They see the health and wellbeing of the community as a powerful motivation and goal.

I see both villain and hero inside me. I have the natural instincts of the villain and the desire for the hero. I see the war Jesus taught us about working inside my mind and heart. It is a war. This is why I pray. I need help fighting off the villain and living more heroically. Jesus won this war. I trust Him to help me fight it.