It's For Their Own Good by McAlyn

It's For Their Own Good by McAlyn - June 2014 Scholarship Essay

When I got my dog Julie about nine years ago, my family had a microchip implanted in her ear. She, as well as my two cats, have all undergone surgery to be spayed and neutered. Though these procedures are considered to be "for their own good", are they humane? What if the same thing were to happen to the human race? Inspired by the documentary "The Hidden Hand", in which it is explained that extraterrestrial beings may be attempting to observe and meddle in our lives, my book would discuss what would happen to society if such extraterrestrial beings took over out lives (The Hidden Hand).

From the homeless woman on the corner to the #1 pop sensation to a young Peruvian soccer player to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, about half of the world's population has been micro chipped by unseen, unheard, unimaginable alien beings. There are long stretches of time in which people have no recollection of what they have been doing, only to become conscious and find various scars all over their body: the result of experimental surgery. Some people just disappear for good. There are angry protesters who aim their cries to the sky, screaming about injustices. There are depressed men, women, and children who weep for the lives they no longer lead. An unknown force is controlling us, chipping us, cutting us open, and manipulating our lives for study. And we are terrified.

This piece of speculative fiction would be meant to make society think about how we treat "inferior" beings. From the obvious, widely-protested animal experimentation to the widely-accepted spaying, neutering, and chipping of domestic and wild creatures, humans claim that it is better for the animals and for our society if we perform these actions. But how would we feel if the tables were turned? We would be outraged, furious, and most of all, extremely afraid.

This book would not be one of protest, but rather one that offers a new perspective. Were our lives completely out of our hands, would it be torture, or simply "for our own good"?

Works Cited
The Hidden Hand. Dir. James Carman. The Hidden Hand. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 June 2014 .