Recently, I engaged in a discussion about whether or not federal funds (i.e. your taxes and mine) should be spent to subsidize abortion. As promised I won't get into politics here (it's 2010--gotta move on and step the game up) but it did get me thinking about our morals as a society (our societal mores if you will).
Morals in and of themselves (like "truth") are flawed. Much like history is written by the winner, morals are set by the majority. They are subjective; what's right to me may be wrong to you. Sure there are universal rights and wrongs--killing someone, the ability to choose for ones self and physical freedom are some examples. It's the "gray" areas where we start to get into "majority rules" versions of right and wrong--killing someone is OK if you are in immediate danger or you're saving the life of another. Each scenario brings its own problems. Take the aforementioned abortion example. Pregnancies that are the result of rape or incest (or in some developing countries sex slavery) are generally exceptions many pro-lifers are willing to concede. Suddenly something that was morally wrong is made right.
Which brings up the next flaw in morality--it constantly evolves. Our views of what's right and wrong change over time. It was considered completely "right" a few hundred years ago for Blacks not to be considered people, for women not to have the right to vote and for white men to dominate the planet. Now those things are considered wrong (for the most part). Humans continue to evolve and become more complex so it makes sense that our ideas of what is right and wrong do as well. This seems like a great idea except there are those in our world that claim a monopoly on what is right and wrong (ahem--religious zealots). The irony in this is that even the purported sources of morality in our society themselves evolve.
Consider that humans have gone from being multi-theistic pagans to concentrating primarily into three monotheistic ideologies. What was right and wrong hundreds thousands of years ago has changed as we went from worshiping the sun to giving thanks to Allah/Yahweh/God. How we dealt with sin and sinners changed. How we dealt with the poor and diseased changed. Sometimes the message of what God says changes depending on the week/denomination/religion. Even how we spread these ideas of right and wrong has changed--what was once forced by the threat of death is now "taught." Suddenly now we think we have it all figured out and that a thousand years from now we won't believe something else is right or wrong. (It's one of the things that frustrates me the most about Christianity--Christians have a monopoly on morality, God, salvation, etc. But since it's 2010, can't talk about religion).
Having said all that what to do then with these moral debates (like paying for abortions)? First we need to understand and come to grips with the fact that not one person or one group knows for certain what's right and what's wrong. (I could go as far as to say that because of this there is no such thing as "right" or "wrong" but that may be a stretch). Everyone should be free to make their own decisions and deal with the consequences. If a woman wishes to terminate a pregnancy then let her deal with the physical, mental and spiritual toll it will have. If someone wishes to kill a person or three then let them deal with the possibility of spending the remainder of their life in jail and possible death. Eventually there is an equal and opposite reaction for every action. It's simple physics. So instead of judging the choices others make (or even the choices they MAY make) let the matter work itself out.
Which of course would require each of us to slowly step down from our various soap boxes and put them away. I realize this is easier said than done for most. Except that all of us standing on those boxes should realize that we haven't always made the best choices and oftentimes been at the base of those boxes being judged. I say stop worrying about everyone else and gird up your own loins--the piper will get paid with your help or not.
Kiss my converse!
Sho-nuff
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