Maybe We Should Just Stop

Sometimes I can't help but look around me and think that things are really screwed up.  I mean, I am an optimist at heart and I believe I have a positive outlook on life, but there are some really weird things that happen on a regular basis.  I'm not talking about the truly horrible events like hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.  They are tragic, but they are part of nature and beyond our control.  I'm talking about the things we humans do that absolutely are within our control.

We all have times when we think about how complex many of the world's problems are.  We don't even consider it a bad thing when politicians or business executives lie to us.  In fact, we understand it and at times even believe it's the right thing to do.  And it's not just on the high levels; bullying is becoming a serious problem with our youth, divorce is at an all time high and climbing, good parenting is becoming a lost art.  And don't get me started on organized religion.  That is becoming as messy and ambiguous has political views.  Who knows what to believe?

We have become a "me first" society.  In truth this has been happening for two generations, but the full effect of this evolution is not impacting all of our lives.  Managers layoff workers to help their bottom line look better, even if the company is doing well.  Parents want to fire coaches if their kids don't get to play as much as they think they should.  And oddly, administrators usually listen to them.  For some reason we can't stop bullies from making someone's life miserable in our schools.  Married people have affairs and often think they are entitled to do so because their marriage isn't as strong as it once was.  People are no longer accountable for what they do.  People are no longer committed to anything besides their own personal interest.  And the worst thing of all is, there seems to be nothing we can do about it.

Well, I have an idea.  Let's just stop.  After all, we are human beings with free choice, right?  So let's make the right choice.  Given a choice to lie or tell the truth, let's tell the truth.  If our leaders can't figure that out, let's vote for someone who can.  Given a choice to bully someone or not, let's not.  If we are in position of authority, let's stop people who don't seem to get that.  If I have a strong spiritual belief that some religious authority thinks is wrong, I can believe it anyway.  We know what is right, so let's do what is right.

Oh, but it's not that simple you say.  Well, in the vast majority of cases, it absolutely is that simple.  Do what's right simply because it is right.  Be honest because it is right.  Work hard because it is right.  Be fair, be helpful, be charitable, be caring, simply because it is right.  Is that naive?  I don't think so.