be careful what you say

Well I should have expected it. I make some comments and my words seem to get twisted round.

"I should go to your aid" I said in a previous blog. "Does that mean that you would not?" someone asked. No, I will go to your aid. By using the word 'should' I intended to give it a moral obligation, as I hope I portrayed when I said that not helping was leading to injustice.
"So, you are good with your fists?" queried another. Not a bit of it. I still hold the view that violence is the last resort.

I suggested a 'what if' attitude, and received a comment 'congratulating' me on my compensation culture approach. How strange! If I, through my own actions, fall down a drain or, as I have done, trip over the curb whilst running for a bus, I do not expect to go cap in hand begging to the council. We must all take responsibility for our own actions, and not seek to blame others.

No, forget the 'should have expected it'. I did expect it.

technological titans but moral minnows

We have developed the internet and with it the ability to cast our thoughts to the four corners of the world. We talk of free speech, and sites where we can post our comments, speech and video for public consumption are increasing daily.

And yet, how many of us stop to think of our responsibilities? With freedom comes the responsibility of our actions. Does it add to the welfare of all if we post derogatory comments? Do we increase the total of human happiness if we upload pictures of violence?

"Liberty causeth man to overstep the bounds of propriety, and to infringe on the dignity of his station. Say, True liberty consisteth in man's submission unto My commandments, little as ye know it." Baha'i Writings.

Our consumer society

I am saddened, but not surprised, that so many people seem intent on ruining themselves and those around them. This was brought home to me yesterday by two things that I saw. The first was a set of comments by motorists who feel that the way (ie speed) they drive or the petrol consumption of the vehicle they choose to drive is of no concern of any one else.
The second was a trip I made to a local electrical store, looking for a new hi-fi unit as the one we have has finally broken down. I was shocked to find that most units had a power output well over ten times the value of our current system (and even that I have never turned up to top volume in our large living room)!

I was brought up to think of the consequences of my actions, and to think of other people before myself. Am I in a minority, then? If so, what hope is there for our planet?