Keepers of the Truth

Bald Man posted a blog and it got me thinking (He does that to me alot, and I appreciate him for that). What is our world view? How is it that we think about things when relate to them? Usually when I do things, I try and use a philosophy I learned from Alister Crowley "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. Love is the law, love under will." What I was told that meant when I first heard/read/whatever it is that "You can do whatever you want, as long as it doesn't interfere with what someone else wants or does in a negative way." I do my best to do that. I try and live by the "Golden Rule" and treat others as I wish to be treated. Those two things, I think define a lifestyle that if we were all able to follow, would lead to great things.

The problem is that there are a whole lot of us in the world and it is hard to do something that doesn't effect someone else, and maybe in a way that is negative to them. Things were so much simpler when we had a smaller world view. Back 200 years ago we most likely wouldn't know what was going on 100 miles from our town. Today, 100 miles might be a daily commute. Back in 1800 the newspapers didn't come out but maybe once a week in most towns and they only told of violence maybe once a month. Today we have 24 news and 24 violence, but when we really review that, how much of that is local in 1800's terms? Did the world get more violent or did we shrink the world with technology?

There was a time when we were much more careful about what we did because it really had more of an effect on our lives. How many leaders were willing to sound the battle cry knowing that they were the ones who actually went first into battle? I think that I am more willing to say that a leader had to fully believe in what he (Sorry ladies, I think I am being historically PC here)was fighting for back then as opposed to today. Would bush have pushed for war in Iraq if he was on the first plane flying into battle (See previous war experience)? But each of us personally had to be careful of what we did back in those times. I might get upset and kick the tire on my car. Most likely it won't damage my car (else I'm stronger than I thought or my car is junkier than I thought), but in 1800 a swift kick to the spokes of a wagon could have easily broken a spoke or spooked a horse. Even the little things mattered a little more. For most people a penny was a lot of money at that time. Do you think that many people abused things they spent 100's of dollars on, or treated them so they might break? Sure some did, but I think most didn't. Today, $100 is a minor thing for many people and who cares if this one breaks, I can go to Wallie-World and get me 2 more for the price of one.

No, I can't say that I have followed both law and rule to a T. I know I have broken both, but I do try. That is part of the problem. It really can't be done totally, and in this case, trying is the best we can do. Let me give an example... Smoking. I don't smoke because second hand smoke can harm others. Ok... Seems good to both Law (don't impede on the will of others to not be harmed by second hand smoke) and Rule (I don't want others to force me to deal with the side effects of their habits I don't share). But wait, there's more. Here is where it doesn't work to both Law (By not doing it I'm harming those people who make their living from the tobacco crop. I know that many people think that those farmers can just plant something else, but alot of farms are suitable for only certain crops, and so tobacco fields most likely won't grow wheat. Besides, I may want to smoke.) and Rule (I'd hate for someone to not do something just because I don't want them to, no matter how good it is for them. Also, I want others to use my "product" (I do have a job ya know) and would hate to think that they aren't because they are being polite to someone else (It does happen in my line of work)). So I have to decide, which is better? Usually I will decide one way, but sometimes I might go another on any given issue. It seems it would be so much easier in a smaller world where I didn't have to decide if I wanted to buy someone made in a sweatshop in China where the people at least are making something for their labor or to not buy and keep them from making the pennies they may need to put food in their mouths.