‘Governments cannot legislate morality ...’

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1:27 PM Friday, March 12, 2010

Do you consider yourself a law-abiding citizen? If your answer is “yes,” why do you think so? Do you think obeying the law makes you a moral person? Be careful now. There are many cultures on planet Earth; and for some, the rules of behavior, considered fit and proper by one society, may be scorned by the other. Cannibalism is the first that comes to mind.

... Just as morality and law are not one and the same for everyone, nor are a particular society’s folkways, mores or ethics. However, they all often share a common range of acceptable behaviors and standards that have been developed over many generations by people living in organized groups.

For many of us, the Ten Commandments provide a reasonably broad acceptable code of ethics of proper behavior — control your anger, restrain yourself from envying and wanting the possessions of others, taking nothing that is not yours, telling or testifying about things that are untrue, killing another human without just cause, having compassion by giving to the less fortunate via gifts and tithes, and respecting and caring for those who have raised you from childhood.

And while many of these behavioral restrictions are currently enacted laws on the books, posting them as reminders — in the form of the Ten Commandments — is fast being forcefully removed from our courthouses by “the few.” After all, out of sight, out of mind.

Some believe a strict, central law-enforcing government is the answer. But the “one shoe fits all” governing concept has failed every time it’s been tried.

No other nation in history has ever provided more freedom, a higher standard of living, a greater opportunity to succeed, shown more compassion in its giving of lives by its citizens and from its national wealth to those in need, freed more enslaved people worldwide, embraced and aided our defeated enemies, and retained no conquered land than this Christian-based nation, our United States of America.

To conclude, governments cannot legislate morality. It must be taught and displayed by example to our children as they mature, at home, in our schools, in our churches and in public. Without a moral citizenry, our democratic, representative republic cannot survive. That premise was openly proclaimed by the founding fathers. Is it too late?

Dean Prushing

Trenton

Election deadline

The deadline for letters to the editor related to the May 4 election is at noon Monday, April 26. No election-related letters will be published after Friday, April 30.

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