I'm going to take issue with the author on this. I dont believe judging the human race to be wholly composed of people inclined to commit evil is that open and shut.
I firmly believe that a large group of people are born inherently good, with the full intentions of being an asset to humanity. They consciously reject any attempt to become evil or participate in dastardly deeds, and toe the line.
I also believe that a small segment of people are programmed to be total predators, with no humanity and no concept at all of ever being good to anyone. They are heartless, murderous maniacs who decieve others and make them evil as well.
I also believe that there are normal people who are capable of doing extraordinarily good things when the chips are down and nothing seems to be in their favor. These people are the ones history records forever as decent and good people.
Then there are generally bad people but perform acts of great kindness and good when they are in the face of human events that make the hearts of others fail. Where do we put them?
What do I base this on? Nothing except life experience, but I am not prepared to throw out the human race yet. There are still people out there who are capable of great things, and they will come out of the woodwork when they are needed. Like they always have.
Yours is a most astute analysis of the human condition. I extend my congratulations.
I refuse to concede that there is such a thing as "the Anne Frank syndrome". Leave Anne out of it, I say. She's in heaven with the angels. Don't drag her name into our current world situation. Young people still feel the need to be inspired by Anne's quiet heroism. Leave them their idealism, thank you.