marieToo
Posts: 3595
Joined: 5/21/2006 From: Jersey Status: offline
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ORIGINAL: marieToo We will always find ways to justify our own behavoirs. Jay walking, if I am correct is against the law. Yet someone would do it thinking "Oh big deal, so Im crossing outside a cross walk, its not like Im dealing cocaine or commiting tax evasion". Yet if a motorist should accidentlly kill that jay-walking pedestrian, he could be held accountable to the crime of involuntary manslaughter. Suddenly the illegal act, or crime, of jay walking just became a far worse nightmare than anyone could have imagined; one man dead, another living with guilt, and possible imprisonment. We break laws every single day of our lives. Parking in the wrong spot can be illegal and punishable by fine. Going beyond the speed limit is illegal. Yet some would argue that its "different" than another illegal act and that it doesnt compare to illegal immigration or murder. . Off the top of my head, I cant come up with a complete opinion of absolutism, only an observation and a thought or two. We will always make our own crimes "ok" in our heads for one reason or another, and someone else's crimes "not ok", when it crosses our own principles. And I dont mean just questions of legality. Ya know, like saying lying is wrong, but it was ok this time because I did it so I wouldnt hurt your feelings. Is lying wrong or is it not? With enough creativity anyone could justify just about anything. I do believe there is a hypocrite living inside of every single one of us. And the only thing that will make that untrue, is admitting it. Thanks marie. quote:
I'm not so sure about your belief that a hypocrite lives inside each of us but I sure enjoyed your paradoxical presentation of the notion. Im not so sure you know what paradoxical means. quote:
I won't make the claim for myself but I know and deeply value a number of people I have known intimately for years who have never shown me the least evidence of being hypocritical. Is this conclusive proof against your claim? No. But I hope my intimate knowledge of these people--as representatives of the range of human possibility--can weigh in against a broad claim like the one you've offerred. Im not saying we live our lives out as hypocrites, Im say thiat at one time or another in one way or another if you really think about it, someone that you know has at least been guilty of being a hypocrite. We are all guilty of being such at one point or another. Maybe it was in kindergarten when you got pissed off that little Johnny punched for getting the swing before you did. If you punched him for punching you, then you believe punching someone is wrong. Yet you punched him back. Hypocrisy. You believe stealing is wrong but you stole a loaf of bread to feed your family. Hypocrisy. You dont like being mocked for being bald, but at some point have mocked another for being fat. Hyprocrisy. These are examples when I use the word "you" of course. I dont mean you, personally. I see hypocrisy every single day all around me in all dealings, with all people. The example Ive given are simple, but they should suffice for most intelligent people who may happen upon this post. Our laws are hypocritical. We dont dare kick a dog or use it sexually; its animal abuse. But we slaughter animals legally in this country everyday. Hypocrisy. I think most would agree that running a red light is wrong, yet if you were rushing a hurt child to a hospital, you might look both ways and then run that light yourself. I could go on and on with examples. But I think it would be a safe bet that we are all guilty (at some time) of critisizing something in another person, that we have done ourselves. Thats hypocrisy. And yes, I do believe there is a hypocrite living inside of everyone. And I doubt that you and these people of which you speak have never been guilty of at least one moment of hypocrisy. quote:
I'd agree with those you mention who would argue that parking illegally is different from murder, although I wouldn't disagree with those who said the two crimes were the same in one very limited sense: the self evident fact of illegality. And I'm guessing that you'd agree with us too. Id agree that different crimes are different crimes. My point was that a crime that may seem minor in nature, could very well result to something very very major. ie the jay walker example. quote:
I don't think it necessarily hypocritical to hold that one crime is okay and another crime is not. I took you to be inferring this but maybe I read you wrong. If you'll notice in my post. My hypocrisy statement stood in a paragraph by itself as a general thought on human nature. I wasnt necessarily applying to the crime beliefs and I do believe I even pointed that out.. Though Im sure I could site plenty of examples where this would apply, even in such an obscure and convoluted argument as the one youve presented. quote:
For instance I think that some of the laws which forbid elements of WIITWD are bad laws and so I observe them in the breach while still believing in the rule of law (strongly but not absolutely) and believing in the rightness of most laws of which I am aware In other words you believe in the 'rule of law' in general and the "rightness" of "most" laws. Yet you live in breach of your own conviction when you break the laws that you dont agree with. This, is hypocrisy. "Gee most of the time I believe in the rule of law, until it comes to the ones I want to break". Youre actually debating your own original argument, or so it would seem. quote:
I would point to the Civil Rights movement in the US for examples of good people saying in effect that they believe in the rule of law but that certain laws are wrong and should be changed, and saying so with "illegal" actions and not just words. I'm not concluding that you'd disagree here. Are you asking if Id agree? quote:
I'm just not sure how far your attribution of hypocriticalness was meant to extend. That doesnt surprise me. :) It was a general statement that my belief is that there is a hypocrite...or at least has been a hypcrite, or will be a hypocrite at some point about some issue at one time or another in our lives. Except of course for yourself and these other exceptional people that you associate with. quote:
. One way to challenge a bad law is to break it. Break it in front of a cop, Noah. Me? I think I'll keep my anal sex behind closed doors. As for the immigrants, they break the law every day. So maybe your point is valid on some really broad and sweeping level. But I still cant see where your point is or if you even have one. Im not being a smart ass, believe it or not. I just cant nail down your position and Im guessing thats because it changes constantly. quote:
I was hoping to contribute with this thread to the overall debate on the subject of illegal immigration. It seems to me that illegality isn't a very productive bottom line, that we should look below that line with notions of justice in mind in regard to immigration as well as in other matters. Yah, I tried to take it to a more human level, instead of focusing on the immigration thing. That ones been beaten to death a million times. And frankly I really didnt pick up on your focus of the responses to be about immigrants but more of a discussion of principle. Guess I misunderstood. I dont know enough about the immigration laws nor am I personally inclined to debate it. I have in the past, but Its just not a topic I enjoy. But Im sure there will be plenty of intellingent discourse coming on that level. Apparently I missed the point or something
< Message edited by marieToo -- 9/6/2006 10:17:26 PM >
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