The Power To Choose Li L Ze Analysis

The Power to Choose There are many instances in human history of certain individuals who commit total acts of violence such as when Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler massacred millions of their people. Yet at the same time there are unique human beings who possess a passionate heart to help others with little to no regard for their own well-being. Examples include Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa who advocated for the safety of their people even at the face of adversity. It was not that they were predisposed to act like this, but it was their ability to do so. Each of these famous individuals choice of having good or malicious action were influenced by the different environments they were exposed to growing up. This was the argument historian

He uses nefarious methods to achieve his goal of territorial expansion by killing other drug dealers while also bribing the cops to make sure he does not get arrested. This personality relates to Zinn’s argument that human aggression is not innate but depends “on the circumstances we find ourselves in and the circumstances we create for ourselves”(Zinn). While Li’l Ze did grew up in a gangster-infested neighborhood, it was his response to his social environment that made him into a sociopath. His lust for power makes him more driven to wipe out the competition. This starts to alienate his best friend Benny leading to a breaking point in their

Howard Zinn gave a very interesting quote in his article about a human’s ability to choose. He states that while “there is an infinite human capacity for violence. There is also an infinite potential for kindness”(Zinn). Both Li’l Ze and Rocket were given many opportunities to choose between the two of them, but Rocket was the only one able to change his fate. Not wanting to fall victim to violence as Goose had, Rocket made sure to seize the possibilities made open to him. He did not waver in fear of subjugation by Li’l Ze but calmly approach each debacle in terms of how it will reflect on his future goals. This demeanor paid dividends in that he got the job he always wanted. As a result, Rocket was able to fulfill his promise to his brother of living a better