One of the things that I am trying to understand here is right from wrong. Not only am I trying to understand right and wrong for me but maybe the overall definitions of right and wrong for everyone. Everyday new things happen to me and to others which constantly have to be out in one of these two areas. I try to unofficially rate everything on a scale of 1 to 10. 1-5 equaling bad and 6 to 10 good. 3-7 equaling arguable. It’s the only way I can come to the terms with the grey areas that we find in our world where everyone insists that we define everything in black and white. To be rated by me as under 3 or over 7 would usually have to mean something drastic and unquestionable and I can not think of many if any things that fit in those areas.
One of the tools we use to understand things that are happening on a global scale is to look at it in a smaller forum and try to decide how we would judge it. Here is an example of how doing that can maybe lead us to the opinions we don't hear yelled in the streets.
Example 1
I am a child. I have been told that little Johnny down the street is bad and I know that is the opinion of my parents and friends. My parents tell me that if I keep being Johnny’s friend that I will be punished. My parents and friends are kind of irrational at times and I know they do things without thinking about it. I know that they are looking for Johnny and there is nothing I can do to stop it. I see that everywhere Johnny goes that not only are people trying to punish him but they are also punishing everyone who helps him. I like Johnny. I don't think he did anything that bad. I want to help. I try to help Johnny. My parents and friends find out. They punish me.
Who’s fault is it I got punished?
A. Is it Johnny’s fault?
B. Is it my parents and friends fault?
C. Or is it mine.
D. All of the above
I am working under this “fact”: In any situation it is the actions and attitudes of everyone involved that are the cause of a situation. Based on that “D” is the simple answer, but I try not to deal in simple answers. SO……….
We know that everyone here is to blame but I ask that I make some kind of order. (If you want to play along now is your chance to think about it without my opinion having any influence on you.)
I have thought about it and I am going with C-A-B in order of “blame”.
C. I think in this situation the child understood that the parents were serious and consistent in their actions. I also think that the child believes that the parents and friends will act without thinking and therefore should not be trusted to act in a rational manner. If we understand all the possible outcomes of a situation and still make our decisions we forfeit any right for complaint if one of those situations comes true.
A. In this situation Johnny did something to make the irrational Parents and friends mad. He is either justified or he is not. It happens. In most cases it results in the parents and friends lashing back. It is an understood repercussion of his actions. He witnesses his friends being hurt for helping him and unfortunately has to continue accepting the help that is offered. He hopes his friends understand what helping him could lead too. He knows what it could lead too and yet he accepts the help.
B. The parents here may be irrational and unthinking but at least they are constant. That Consistency is the ONLY thing that won’t let me move them up the list higher. As parents they should understand that Johnny did something wrong and others should not be punished for his problems. As parents they should consistently try not to punish the child for standing up for what he believes in and helping Johnny. They should actively insure that only Johnny gets punished for Johnny’s crimes and that the crime of helping Johnny does not have the same punishment. However, again I say that their consistency makes them the least to be blamed in this scenario.
Having done my best to explain my thinking in that scenario I want to re-write Example 1. I will attempt to mark my edits.
Example 1-B
I am a man from Damadola. I have been told that Ayman al-Zawahiri from Al Qaeda is considered bad and I know that is the opinion of America and my own government. America and my own government tell me that if I keep being Ayman al-Zawahiri from Al Qaeda’s friend that I will be Bombed. America and my own government are kind of irrational at times and I know they do things without thinking about it. I know that they are looking for Ayman al-Zawahiri from Al Qaeda and there is nothing I can do to stop it. I see that everywhere Ayman al-Zawahiri from Al Qaeda goes that not only are people trying to BOMB him but they are also BOMBING everyone who helps him. I like Ayman al-Zawahiri from Al Qaeda. I don't think he did anything that bad. I want to help. I try to help Ayman al-Zawahiri from Al Qaeda. America and my own government find out. They BOMB me.
Who’s fault is it I got BOMBED?
A. Is it Ayman al-Zawahiri from Al Qaeda’s fault?
B. Is it America and my own government’s fault?
C. Or is it mine.
D. All of the above
I think I am done for the day.
