Civilization is defined as that stage of human development that is most advanced and organized within a society. America is a civilized nation. Well, at least it is supposed to be, and I would argue it was, at one time, the most civilized place on earth. After spending just a few hours on the internet and listening to the news on television I'm not so sure of that anymore. Are we acting in a civilized fashion ? Certainly you can see a total lack of civility among the various groups. Whether it is the Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives or any other opposing ideologies present today they sure aren't civil ! Not in the way I was taught to be civil anyway.
I'm not saying civilization is lost, just that we are now on the edge. Many of us lean one way or the other depending upon the current topic or issue and that is the way it should be. In a civilized society this is embraced, indeed it is encouraged. I'd say it was maintaining a balance. What I'm seeing now is people giving others a push over that edge ! Instead of attempting to regain balance, they are just shoving. All the name calling, degrading comments and general bad feelings being openly displayed are eroding civility.
I'm thinking this shift happened as we discovered we could use the rule of law as a weapon instead of a protection. The law is intended to shield us from those that would do wrong. That is the way I always thought about it. When someone committed an offense they were then subject to punishment. The object was to not commit the offense. But somewhere along the line that shield turned into a sword. I can cut you down standing behind the law, I can say whatever I want to, it's my right ! Sound familiar ? I'm thinking it is like pounding our plowshares into swords. In the Bible that was done to establish the law, symbolically at least. The Bible being prophecy is not to be taken literally in every instance, rather in the context it is presented. Just like people talking to one another. The Bible is God talking to us. But this is not a sermon or a discussion of the Bible. I am talking about the disappearance of civility. The whole concept is becoming antiquated.
I'm not saying civilization is lost, just that we are now on the edge. Many of us lean one way or the other depending upon the current topic or issue and that is the way it should be. In a civilized society this is embraced, indeed it is encouraged. I'd say it was maintaining a balance. What I'm seeing now is people giving others a push over that edge ! Instead of attempting to regain balance, they are just shoving. All the name calling, degrading comments and general bad feelings being openly displayed are eroding civility.
I'm thinking this shift happened as we discovered we could use the rule of law as a weapon instead of a protection. The law is intended to shield us from those that would do wrong. That is the way I always thought about it. When someone committed an offense they were then subject to punishment. The object was to not commit the offense. But somewhere along the line that shield turned into a sword. I can cut you down standing behind the law, I can say whatever I want to, it's my right ! Sound familiar ? I'm thinking it is like pounding our plowshares into swords. In the Bible that was done to establish the law, symbolically at least. The Bible being prophecy is not to be taken literally in every instance, rather in the context it is presented. Just like people talking to one another. The Bible is God talking to us. But this is not a sermon or a discussion of the Bible. I am talking about the disappearance of civility. The whole concept is becoming antiquated.
Chivalry is associated with the knights of the middle ages. That is a long gone practice for sure. Still I think that morphed into the concept of civility. George Washington himself wrote a book on civility. In it he wrote rules for decent behavior in company and conversation. Civility is central to civilization that should be obvious enough. And central to civilization is the citizen ! The citizens make up the civilization. If the citizens no longer act in a civilized fashion what do you have ? It all seems completely obvious doesn't it ? So have we lost sight of the forest by looking at the tree ? That tree being our own wants, needs and desires. The whole concept of chivalry, civility and citizenship is based on the idea of respect and service to others, to the whole. When that is no longer practiced the end grows closer. It is that way with individual relationships and with nations. I submit to you it is that way with the entire world. It is a cycle like so many other cycles. We are only seeing a very small piece of the picture.
Eventually a new sense of civility will be established, a new world order that you hear mentioned so often these days. It is really nothing new at all but has occurred and reoccurred many times. Remember civilization is defined as being the most advanced. Don't we always believe we are advancing ? No one works to go backwards do they ? No they work to afford themselves more protections. That is the purpose of law. The law as a shield until that law is beaten into that sword and another order established. The defenders of the law are at a disadvantage, always. That is because the law is always subject to a new interpretation. We have reached a point in America where the law is under constant attack. We have reached a point where a great many now feel they have a legal right to break the law ! The new interpretation being we can change the law, simply by ignoring that law. A view 180 degrees from the premise of law in the first place. We began proclaiming ourselves as One Nation ! That isn't what I'm hearing these days. Civility lost can be regained and has been many times. The only question left is, will it this time ? One can only pray.
Eventually a new sense of civility will be established, a new world order that you hear mentioned so often these days. It is really nothing new at all but has occurred and reoccurred many times. Remember civilization is defined as being the most advanced. Don't we always believe we are advancing ? No one works to go backwards do they ? No they work to afford themselves more protections. That is the purpose of law. The law as a shield until that law is beaten into that sword and another order established. The defenders of the law are at a disadvantage, always. That is because the law is always subject to a new interpretation. We have reached a point in America where the law is under constant attack. We have reached a point where a great many now feel they have a legal right to break the law ! The new interpretation being we can change the law, simply by ignoring that law. A view 180 degrees from the premise of law in the first place. We began proclaiming ourselves as One Nation ! That isn't what I'm hearing these days. Civility lost can be regained and has been many times. The only question left is, will it this time ? One can only pray.
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