Interesting discussion.
There are two kinds of laws----those that represent the society's collective
morality and values (like prohibitions on murder, rape, violence, etc.)
and those that address more morally neutral issues.
As I recall, the first type, dealing with heinous activity, are categorized
as malum in se, the second, malum prohibitum
(evil in themselves vs. evil because they're prohibited).
When a society becomes over-regulated, you tend to have way
too many of the latter type.
In our society, the malum in se kind of prohibitions
really track the natural law. No one disagrees that you shouldn't
murder someone or go on a shooting spree when you got your
cd's or bike stolen.
However, while the larger society can agree on the inherent
evilness of certain acts, the real problem I see centers
on how to deal with the wrongdoer in a specific situation.
That's when people tend to fall back on looking for a million
excuses so that the wrongdoer can be re-cast as the victim.
Unfortunately, society as a whole is not willing to force
people to accept personal responsibility and this transcends
the criminal law.
Take, for example, the myriad sports stars who have killed
people driving when drunk, assaulted their girlfriends,
abused drugs, and engaged in all kinds of anti-social,
irresponsible and/or criminal behavior.
Because of the money involved, they frequently get sixty
thousand chances to get straight, etc., and many routinely
keep at the same deviant behavior.
If you support the organizations employing these types,
you are tacitly condoning their behavior.
The same is true of other personalities like actors, etc.
Or even politicians.<g>
Children and young adults committing mass murder
should not come as a surprise when we look at the
big picture of our society's unwillingness to de-victimize
the screw-ups and make them take responsibility for their
actions.
All you have to do in America is say you're sorry or have some excuse
and, geez, anything is forgiveable.
Should that be the way?
What's wrong with having more clearly defined notions
of right and wrong, and of the importance of personal
responsiblity. |
