If children are inherently good, then adults should also be inherently good as well but that is not the case and for those of us who understand the nature of man, we all know that. The question that must be asked is that if children are inherently good, then how is it that they cease to be inherently good when they become adults? What changes them into becoming inherently evil when they cease to be children?

There can only be two conclusions to this in that either children, as they become older are corrupted from without, or they are inherently corrupt from birth; that inward corruption not being made immediately apparent until they reach a certain age and if they are inherently corrupt from birth, then this would easily explain the inherent corruption of adults and the only way such corruption can be dealt with is a transformation of the corrupted nature from within. But if men are made corrupt only by those things that are without, then all that would be required is the removal of those corrupting influences, but yet even if we remove from society what we might perceive to be corrupting influences, corruption, though minimized, is still not entirely eliminated which would mean something more must be done which requires addressing the inward condition of the man.

The gun control, or should I say the gun-banning advocates demand and insist that we get as many guns off of the streets and out of our homes as we can as they claim it would reduce violence, but when we read the fourth chapter of the book of Genesis, Cain did not need a firearm to kill his brother Abel. He very well could have killed Abel with a rock or even with his bare hands and what drove him to kill his brother was an intense hatred for him because God looked upon Abel's offering but not upon Cain's and the reason why God looked more favorably upon the offering of Abel is because it was of the nature that God had required, but Cain's offering was not looked upon with favor because it was not the offering that God had commanded of him, and though our Creator attempts to persuade Cain to do that which is right in His sight, Cain gives into his hatred and anger towards his brother and kills him but it is not the means by which he killed Abel that is blamed nor any outward influences that are held to account, but Cain himself is held accountable for his own actions and for the murder which was premeditated in his mind.

In the case of Cain as it is with all people, there was an internal matter within him that had to be dealt with and we all contend and struggle with the same inherent corruption that existed within Cain; it is that there are those of us who give into it more than others do.

What does this then have to do with the nature of children? If anyone has ever taken time to observe the actions of children, we know that it is in the capacity of children, just as it is in adults, to do both good and evil. We see children perform acts of love as well as hate. We see them capable of acting generously and even selflessly as well as selfishly. We see them build each other up and tear each other down, but the difference between adults and children is that children, at least for a time, remain in a state of innocence; never really understanding good and evil as adults do but their understanding of good and evil and knowing right from wrong develops as they become older and at some point, they do reach that age of accountability and when that is, no one can really say; it differs from person to person. Have you ever noticed how no one, not even children need to be taught how to be evil? Evil seems to come more naturally to man than that which is good. But from day one, if we want children to grow up to be upright contributing members of society virtues such as kindness, honesty, integrity, proper behavior, mercy, compassion, empathy, and love have to be taught to them; instilled in them and even then, they will not always choose to do what is right, but will still sometimes do things that they shouldn't.

Are children innocent in comparison to adults? I will not doubt that, but do I believe them to be inherently good? No, because even the goodness of children can fall short of moral perfection. Think back to when you were a child. Did you always do what was right? Were there not times that you gave into selfish tendencies and may have even told a lie or two on occasion? Were there not times when you rebelled against your parents when it would have been better to have obeyed them?

There are a number of things that I believe pacify the actions of children by which the actions of adults are not as pacified and that is 1: Their innocence. 2. Their dependency upon the protection and care they receive from adults. 3. They understand that there are consequences to bad behavior that they would rather not risk, but when they become adults, or even adolescent, it is then that they find and discover within themselves, or at least what they perceive to be, abilities and strength to challenge and circumvent any and all set boundaries that they do not believe serves their interests and would, for better or for worse, do whatever it is that they will for better or worse and irrespective of the consequences.

The little girl in the video that you shared is currently in a state of innocence thus making her appear to be good, and she may very well presently seek to be good in the sense of being well behaved, but as to what sort of adult she will turn out to be is another matter which will not be known until 10 or 20 years later into her life.