Values And The Civil Society

I've spent a lot of time thinking about this, but won't spend a lot writing tonight.

We see so many people and groups seeking to force or enforce good or right behavior. There are laws passed and proposed that seek to discipline the thoughts of people. There are laws and rules that seek to regulate the actions of people.

When I think about it, there are far too many things that are good or bad. In fact, it would be impossible to catalog all the virtuous acts we should do and all the vicious acts we should avoid.

I think of Moses delivering the Ten Commandments to Israel. Is it to reasonably be expected that a list of ten items would regulate all the behaviors?

I remember an ancient king who imparted his wisdom in a farewell address to his people. He started to list the things he wanted them to do to be happy. Suddenly he caught himself and said, basically, "Look, I can't tell you all the things to do and to avoid. But I can tell you this much: If you want to be happy you have to govern yourselves. You have to discipline your thoughts and your words and your deeds. You have to do what you know is right."

The controversial, but immensely successful Mormon prophet Joseph Smith was asked how he controlled so many new converts to his religion in the early 1800s. His reply was simple, but striking. He said, "I teach them correct principles; and they govern themselves!"

A civil society, a society of well-behaved people who look out for each other, must be founded on individual morality. It must be protected from external destruction by the rule of law. It will be ultimately preserved from internal decay by the virtue of its citizens.

The "leaders" of our country seem to be afraid today to remind us of OUR OWN civic responsibility. They instead seek to substitute a state-enforced code of conduct for each citizen's own moral compass.

Justice and Mercy...

The recent capture of Roman Polanski, a convicted and admitted rapist, in Europe, and the subsequent debate over whether or not he should be extradited to the United States in order to serve the remainder of his life in prison, has me disturbed.



The most disturbing thing is that there is any debate at all. The second most disturbing thing is that those opposing his incarceration argue for forgiveness.



Mr. Polanski lured his victim under false pretenses and used drugs and alcohol to incapacitate a 13-year old girl in the home of one of his friends. He then proceeded to sexually assault and rape her.



He was arrested for his crime and confessed to it. He was sentenced to prison and, before he served a day of his time he fled to Europe.



That was 30 years ago.



His victim, now in her 40s, has said publicly and repeatedly that she forgives Mr. Polanski and wishes him no malice. That is an exceptional example for all of us to strive to follow. The world would be a much more peaceful place if we could.



So, why am I so upset about the debate?



Mercy and forgiveness are things extended by INDIVIDUALS to individuals. They may only come legitimately from a PERSON of his own volition.



Governments and courts may NOT dispense mercy or forgiveness. They MUST dispense justice in the protection of the innocent and the punishing of the guilty. Society must NEVER forgive a person who violates another, who murders another, who abuses another.

When we allow our personal feelings to interfere with the order of the civil society we are setting the civil society up for failure.