Greetings to you Vagrant Souls out there. After a recent conversation with an Itchy Soul I feel bound to share this topic with you. As usual what I’m going to say will probably be pretty scrambled to most, but enjoy nonetheless.
Is there really a right or wrong? A simple question, I know, but it is very intriguing to think about. I’ll share with you my thoughts on the topic; perhaps my brother will explain his own view later. It is my belief that there is certainly a right and wrong decision or action a person can take. However, what is considered to be right or wrong, I believe, has to be directly associated with an individual’s core values or belief system.
I do not believe that right and wrong are values that can truly be determined by society. Such acquiescence to standards set for you by peers will always be flawed. This is not to say that all the ideas or rules that society or group implements or suggests are bad. Quite the contrary, many of the ideas and values that are widely accepted are for good reason, but are not universally relevant. Anyway, I say all of that to get this point across. Good and bad should be based on an individual’s personal value system. Once those values are established the easiest way to tell if something is right or wrong, is to consult your system.
Example
It is commonly taught and believed that killing is bad, evil, one of THE terrible sins. We have laws against killing another human being, and even animals in some areas. So the social stance on killing is obviously its wrong, right? But that same society will strap you with a gun to go out in to a foreign land and shoot to kill complete strangers for…? Okay let me take it down a few levels and bring it back to the individual. If someone were to come up to you or someone important to you and threaten to kill you would you feel justified in killing that person? Based on the moral value and laws set by society it’s wrong, which, technically, makes (lawful) capital punishment wrong.
Another random example
Monogamy is the socially accepted way of expressing your love. Most people will either subtly or overtly condemn any form of polygamy, yet it can be argued that those same people will agree that commitment to a single partner is sometimes made difficult because of a natural attraction to another. Your partner may have the qualities that you require for a companion to travel this journey of life, and you may claim them as your own. So if that is the case what do you think is reason some stranger draws your attention, or brings out desire from within you? Are your natural desires/curiosity wrong? If personally you believe that once you make a commitment to one person, that any stimulation brought on, or encouraged, by another person is wrong then for you it is certainly wrong. My question would be where did that value come from? Did you come up with those guidelines on your own or were they handed down to a child who blindly accepted this as being correct?
To the wanderers out there, set your own standards. Define for yourself what is right and wrong and avoid the mindlessness that could find you in the Third Reich, in the police department, in the armed services doing what your spirit is telling you is wrong. Remember “Nobody built like you. You design yourself.” I leave you with this delightful little number by Wax Tailor.
“We are the masters of our own destiny. We are the makers of our own fate.”
Never take life too seriously, no one gets out alive anyway.
-Au Revoir
