Originally posted on my website: www.eliciaclegg.com
I have labored in my mind many different reasons as to why I should or should not be moral. Even now as I type this blog, yet again, I feel utterly perplexed and downright confused. I can see how being moral is not in my best interest; for morality has become such a complex notion that even the experts cannot agree upon what morality is. Not to mention the bewilderment which comes with the knowledge of the numerous attempts to manipulate, and successfully so, the very meaning of morals, this of course is done simply to line the pockets of greedy, unscrupulous people.
These acts of corruption lead most people to ask: if I do not follow the painstakingly difficult dogma of religion, will I burn in the blazing pits of hell?
Fear surly could not be a good reason for me to act morally, or as I like to say: with values. With this statement came the confusion and the idea that morals are in fact not worth ones time, and so I am set back. Is morality simply control? Is morality a lie? Is morality for the weak? These complex and swirling thoughts of puzzlement kept occurring to me and so again I ask; why should I be moral? As they say, nice guys finish last.
Then I stopped and much like a whisper swirling around in the wind and hardly audible, the meaning of morality breathed life into me. It was then I knew morals are not some laboring, overwhelming job of doing one good deed after another nor is it some rule of continuous self sacrifice. It is simply the interlocking fingers of compassion and love, a kind of natural byproduct of a loving, compassionate act. It was in this definition of morality that allowed me to put away my judgmental notions of morals being just another way for the man to control us humans. It is with this definition that I am really able to analyze whether or not I should be moral and why.
I have seen the evils that come with greed and with power. I know these acts can in fact bring joy and fulfillment, well at least for a short span of time. We all choose our paths in life and as a person who lives and breathes in this tactile world, I have chosen, after walking the dark path, to live my life in the world of love and compassion. I am not alone; this is my children's lives, my love's life, and my many friends' lives. And though the darkness is very compelling and easy, love has allowed me to say that even though morality, in the moment, may seem stupid, naive, and dare I say, the losing spirit, it is, in the grand scheme of time being infinite, the correct thing and way to live.
How can I say that in the essence of life being more than a moment that I know without a doubt that morality is in mine, yours, or anyone's best interest? Simple, whether or not their actually is some great God who made it so, or some kind of cruel joke of nature, we as humans are not singular creatures. We are born into this world naked and helpless and in most cases we die in just this way. This leads to the conclusion: whether we like them or not, we do impact those around us, just as they impact us. In a way, if I am bad to someone else, I am in fact being bad to myself.
If we all thought only of ourselves and chose not to think before we act, then life as we know it would cease to exist and quite possibly stop altogether. If we live by the rules of greed, selfishness, enslavement, and cruelty; we will slowly find ourselves in a world that is driven solely by these things. Men would dominate each other with brute force and manipulation. The poor would starve, the weak would be enslaved, and children would simply be born to serve their parents until they had the strength or cunning to overthrow their oppressors.
This world is not the world I find to be desirable nor do I believe that it is desirable even for the very strong and most intelligent of us; for even the very strong of will and mind will eventually grow weak and old and helpless.
We are born into this world vulnerable; it is only through the acts of love and kindness that we really thrive. I respect life; I love my family, friends, and try not to dwell on the hate of my enemies. I show compassion toward my fellow man, and though it may not be the easiest of choices, I know in my heart that I will always strive to be a moral person.
So yes, morality has been corrupted and railroaded. It has been twisted and abused, but so has love...and yet could you imagine a life without love? Neither can I.
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