I often imagine how life would have being without having some certain laws to govern us. I do wonder too if human beings would not be violent or ruthless if there are no laws guiding us. I am talking about secular laws at this point. Would there having being more ruthlessness, violence, lack of respect for others and their spaces if we don't have these laws? Or are the laws the beginning of our doom?
I have watched kids severally even though I don't have any human kids of my own but feline ones whom have personalities that amaze me, the bossy and sweet, the faithful and calm, the aggressive and confused and the tender and restless. That sums up some of the personality traits of my cats.
If my cats can have personalities that amaze me, you can imagine what I have picked from the kids. I just wonder how a-less-than-a-year kid knows how to inflict pains on other kids, or how a-less-than-a-year knows how to scream and make mummy and daddy shudder to get what he/she wants or how a less than 2 year old kid knows what it means to be bad or good. This gives me a sense of thinking perhaps some of us are born with evils in us or some of us with goodness though our evironment can help shape us or make us worse but we are sure born with some traits.
If my assessements were true, then we need laws, we need laws to remind us that we cannot be irresponsible, that we cannot feel like we want to kill and that it's the right thing to do, we cannot think that we can just do like we like without thinking and knowing there are consequences. Laws in themselves are not bad, they are made to help us understand the 2 sides of life. The good side that will not get you into trouble and the bad side that may get you to have confrontation with the laws...
I think the world would have being worse without laws, or are the innocents being punished by the laws too? What do you think?
I have watched kids severally even though I don't have any human kids of my own but feline ones whom have personalities that amaze me, the bossy and sweet, the faithful and calm, the aggressive and confused and the tender and restless. That sums up some of the personality traits of my cats.
If my cats can have personalities that amaze me, you can imagine what I have picked from the kids. I just wonder how a-less-than-a-year kid knows how to inflict pains on other kids, or how a-less-than-a-year knows how to scream and make mummy and daddy shudder to get what he/she wants or how a less than 2 year old kid knows what it means to be bad or good. This gives me a sense of thinking perhaps some of us are born with evils in us or some of us with goodness though our evironment can help shape us or make us worse but we are sure born with some traits.
If my assessements were true, then we need laws, we need laws to remind us that we cannot be irresponsible, that we cannot feel like we want to kill and that it's the right thing to do, we cannot think that we can just do like we like without thinking and knowing there are consequences. Laws in themselves are not bad, they are made to help us understand the 2 sides of life. The good side that will not get you into trouble and the bad side that may get you to have confrontation with the laws...
I think the world would have being worse without laws, or are the innocents being punished by the laws too? What do you think?
19 comments:
I'm not a major fan of Laws as they are currently used and implemented in our society.
Law can be so divorced from reality. One murderer gets away with it, one doesn't, both committed murder but one gets off on a technicality?
Nothing in this world is black and white but we instinctively have a sense of what is right and what is wrong. I honestly think the basic moral cord we are all born with deals with the major issues, murder, assault, theft etc etc etc.
If we followed that instinct we would be better guided than using an arbitrary system that can be manipulated, abused and ultimately generates more work, procastination and phonee than it could ever be worth.
The examples you give of kids and pets are about nurture. All humans are born with the skill of manipulation and even a desire to cross lines.
How we are brought up makes all the difference, it's not that we don't need to have laws, but I feel that humanity would survive with much more strength and integrity if we didn't all rely on so called legal constructs.
Thanks for catching me during a much needed brain break moment...now back to work!
P.S. Sorry for writing an essay in your comments! :-s
@ Blogger LoloBloggs: Long comment ke. I so much love your perspective. Life would have trully being better if human beings let not greed and wickedness rule... and we would have being more comfortable with basic morals....
You know in Yoruba land there is the adage that says 'where there is no law, there is no sin or crime'.
I shudder to think of a society where there is no law. Even with laws, see our people flagrantly run afoul of same?
It keeps us grounded! At least to a reasonable extent.
If there were no laws- then this world will be much worse. Imagaine how it is even with the laws. people still sexually assault children, kill, commit adultery etc despite the laws. and yes the law sometimes is not fear. If a murderer is caught and is not read his/her rights- they can get away or something like that.
hmm...whether there are laws or not the person that will do bad will do bad, the person that will do good will do good...
hmmm but i guess some laws are good
Having watched a lot of law & order movies & reading detective novels am both inclined 2 agree with both u & logoblog. Law works if u know ur onion better dan d other man. It's tricky,which is d beauty & d ugliness of it. Which is y people on d street don't or shouldn't take laws in their hands. I've a lot of admiration 4 d law,but not much faith in it in Nigeria.
Am so sorry,lolobloggs not logoblog. Forgive my error
It's not a question so much about needing laws, as who do they serve? In a society like where you live, the laws serve the government bureaucrats and corporate robbers. Ultimately it's a class question.
Regards
i think both. the world is safer as a result of some laws but unfortunately many innocent folks suffer as a result of those same laws.
i totally agree with u, Standtall..
forget about the thoery of the cave man and evolution blahblah,i think what really seperates us from then and what we have become now is those sets of 'do's and donts'.so my believe is the looks-not even interllect,like most claim- is not what really makes us human or seperates us from other http://www.blogger.com/profile/01399007801792361957animals but the ability to live by does sets of rules.so the verdict?laws helps lucks the animal on the inside while we potray a smiling humanity on the outside.so they-laws -are expedient.hey stands,i seem to remember you mentioning you still want to read law,well gd luck!
The law is a good thing when implemented properly minus the human instinct for greed, wickedness, lust for all kinds of things and all these unsavoury factors that have sadly given rise to numerous problems in our world (think wars, civil uprisings, rape incidents, murder, arson, slave trade, hunger and starvation etc). This is why laws are instituted, to eliminate the subjectivity of people's ulterior motives and to drive a societal code of conduct. Interestingly, these laws are made by humans for humans and to be applied by humans. So it is a never-ending merry-go-round, a ring-circus elephant ride. The law is subjective because of the same human factors that make the law necessary. Sometimes the law actually delivers justice, sometimes it erroneously punishes the innocent and the powerless. Should we completely dispense of the law then? No I say for when the law does work it is beautiful to see and nearly eclipses the times the law messes up but not quite, because the people affected would remember and hurt, maybe forever.
In conclusion, good and fearless people all over the world, such as you Standy, have the responsibility to act as whistleblower to the wrong application of the law to create a cohesive and secure environment for others. That is your cross... our cross.
Keep being you babes. Keep changing the world you live in for the better. I heart U, mi lady :)
Nice post!
Unfortunately I don't think humanity will ever be perfect, neither will the world we have created for ourselves..because the world today is solely shaped by us humans.
Laws are imperfect just like us and I think we still have a long way to go. At the same time I am amazed at how far we've already gone. In my own opinion humanity continues to evolve - we don't only learn from history but we evolve. The world is less brutal today than 500 years ago. Certain things are now totally unacceptable. I think that unfortunately a lot of innocent people are being victimized by laws but it depends where in the world you look.
Of course the best thing would be if all humans could learn to not be greedy. I think greed is the worst sin of all, because it causes people to commit any other sin, or mistake if you will.
I think your question doesn't have one clear answer. Some laws we may be better without. but like Lolobloggs said, it all depends on how we are brought up. In spite of that, people DO change and improve their ways. Undoubtedly the most important laws we have are our morals and that's what we need to strengthen and enforce in the world today. Plus education and enlightenment is good, abi? We also need to continue renewing and criticising our own ways to improve, this also including our laws. I have to go with Poeticallytinted and also say "I heart you, mi lady" lol.
Laws are undoubtedly necessary,in a gathering....to maintain peace,and order...but in a society like ours,where the laws are constantly put aside for the rich in the society to pass along,where the innocent are unsure,and even afraid to seek justice,because they believe such doesn't exist...the power of these laws are actually questioned....
Laws are necessary....
Thanks dear...It was the fault of the template..but it's been fixed...
The unfortunate reality is that humans do not always do things in their best interest. If that was the case, individuals would understand that cooperation, not selfishness is an asset.
Based on our inability to act in our collective best interest, laws help to keep a modicum of order. I cannot imagine the world without laws/ethical codes and expectations. The mere thought is scary...
How did that application go?
I agree that we need laws, they can be hard to follow and all, but we do need them.
So interesting nd enlightened to read all these wonderful comments. I have learnt!
Laws are what makes the world we live in worth living. Even God the Almighty has laws he lays down for us to obey in order to identify with him. Without laws, life would be chaotic.
lets go back to them days when sango and obatala were the law, and people were scared to death of stealing etc...society was safer then, We had order! no armed robbers, dont u think? i am half-serious :)
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