A Tarnished Halo

"Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo."

--H.G. Wells

Morals? Forget about 'em! Most moral systems are just control mechanisms developed by the scared and the weak to allay their fears that somebody out there might actually be having more fun than they are.

As I expressed in a previous post: You only legislate for yourself. You can make all the behavioral rules you want, but they only apply to you.

The question is: Why even try and apply them to others? Wells answer of "jealousy" rings at least partially true. But even deeper than jealousy runs the river of fear. It's the fear that if we just let people do whatever they want all hell will break loose. As if adults having consensual sex out of wedlock, or smoking a little dope in the privacy of their own living room, are going to destroy the entire nation!

The other tributary of the river of fear is belief. That may sound strange, but many people justify oppressive moral rules and regulations by saying things like "I believe in the Bible." Or the Koran, or any so-called holy book you care to name. True believers act as if their belief gives them the right, even the duty, to force their beliefs and morals upon the rest of us. Sheer lunacy!

Clear away all the hype and the crap and the fear and the prophets, and it's really quite simple: Everyone should be able to do whatever they want as long as in so doing they do not infringe upon the rights of others.

So, if the hooker on the street corner wants to sell her body for peanuts, let her. It's her body. Don't worry, she's not selling yours. If you feel sorry for her, feel she's being exploited, then use education, or persuasion, not legislation or law enforcement to change things. Or just mind your own damn business. There are lots of other ways in which you can do your part to make the world a better place.

Same goes for drug usage, consensual sex, and all other victimless crimes. Adults should be free to choose what they want to do as long as they are not restraining the freedom of others in the process. Each person develops their own behavioral rules that apply only to them.

By all means set your own standards of behavior. And then be a shining example to others by living by them. What you do speaks much louder than what you say, anyway.

So, just for today, become clear about your personal rules of living, and live by them -- impeccably. And when you catch yourself judging others by your moral standards relax, let go, replace judgement with love, and smile, smile, smile.