Just thinking about the randomness of life, on what is bestowed on some while others struggle for everything they get, and sometimes they still don’t get anything. I just finished reading Les Miserables and felt that despite the hideous nature of justice in early 19th century France, today we are not too much better with respect to judging others and “living and let live”. One of the things that disturbs me is the posting of “repeat offenders” or rapists’ names. I don’t know how much it serves the public to know where these people are, and yet it is essential to keep citizens safe from violence. I don’t know what the answer is to that except maybe don’t release them into society again if they are such a threat.
It’s not a simple thing to decide how to run society, how to run a country, or a town, or even a family for that matter. At least in a family the parents genuinely try their best to make things work out for the best. The same cannot be said for politicians who too often betray their trust. I believe that every citizen has the right to a decent quality of life and in that essential we ought to be equal. It’s not a new thought but it is one that doesn’t seem to go over very well with the vast majority. That is disturbing because it is as though we continue to fail as human beings in simply wanting the same for others as ourselves. What is civilization if not being civil to one another?
It still amazes me how few people seem to fail in understanding or agreeing with the idea of an equal society. They often feel very righteous about their own achievements in getting where they are in the world and feel that others ought to be able to achieve the same degree of success. I disagree because I have observed my own brother struggle and simply go backwards instead of forwards in his life. It is painful to see and there doesn’t seem to be any help for it. Some people are born disadvantaged and no amount of hard work, studying or trying will help them. They need a helping hand to stay afloat.
Christianity’s basic principle, the golden rule, preaches that we should treat others as we would be treated. Isn’t it amazing that North America, with more churches than anywhere else on the globe, does not live by this principle to the extent of denying something so essential as universal health care, never mind education for all, work for all, a roof over everyone’s head. What is the matter with us? When is enough, enough? For some, a billion dollars is not enough to assuage the black pit of their soul. How dreadful.
I don’t’ begrudge anyone their little plot of earth (okay, yes I begrudge the bête noir my 9 feet) – seriously, I don’t begrudge anyone a decent living and I don’t care how much I have to pay in taxes to help out the individual. I do begrudge the squandering and stealing that goes on in government though we pretend it cannot possibly happen. Of course it happens. The fearful thing is that it happens to an even greater extent than has ever been revealed. That revelation would probably cause a revolution in the country (if we weren’t “spayed cats laying on our backs with our feet in the air”.)
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