Tolerance and Respect

Column for week of September 22, 2014

     Many things may be seen as evidence of civilization. 
Some point to art and literature.  Others focus on advanced
technology.  Still others may see peace as the hallmark of
civilization.  None of these are the foundation of civilization. 
They may be the fruits of civilization.  Or, they may not even be
reliable evidence that civilization exists.

     When a substantial part of the population lives in fear
and terror of other people, the society isn't civilized.  It may,
however, appear peaceful.  The population may submit to
exploitation and abuse out of fear.  This is not civilized.  It is
also unstable and can't last.

     A society seeped in exploitation and abuse may produce
art and literature, as well as some technological achievements. 
Still, it is not civilized.  In a civilized society people treat each
other in a civil and respectful manner.  Individuals don't quickly
turn to violence when interacting with others.

     People are peaceful because they recognize the folly of
turning to violence, not because they live in fear of being struck
down by their rulers.  They seek the voluntary cooperation of
their fellow citizens, rather than saying "Do it my way, or I will
hurt you."  Technical achievements, art, literature, and prosperity
are the fruits of such a peaceful, cooperative society, not the
cause of it.

     The key to living in peaceful cooperation is for
individuals to be tolerant and respectful of each other.  Lack of
tolerance and respect quickly leads to force and violence that
destroys civilization.

     Tolerance and respect doesn't require approval and
support.  It only requires that we respect the rights of peaceful
individuals to live as they choose without threats of force and
violence.  We also must tolerate what they do, even if we don't
like it.

     Tolerance and respect don't mean we must aid or support
conduct of which we disapprove.  If we don't approve of what
others do, we don't have to invite them to lunch or hire them. 
Everyone also has the right to speak out for or against the
conduct of others.  Forcing peaceful people to act against their
conscience is uncivilized.  We must refrain from resorting to
violence to change others.  The use of force and violence must
be limited to protecting ourselves from the force, violence and
fraud of others.

     Civilized people respect the rights of others to be free
from violence and threats against their person.  It is also
essential that we respect the right of individuals to work and
produce whatever they can to sustain their lives and provide
comfort and satisfaction.  Such work product flows from the
person and is an extension of the person.  It deserves the same
respect as the person.  The secure right to the fruits of one's
labor isn't  an unimportant, trivial right.  Secure property rights
is one of the foundation stones of civilization.

     Most people conduct themselves in such a civilized
manner.  Few directly attack their neighbors or take their
property.  Many are far less reluctant to urge someone else to
beat others into the so called acceptable life style.   They may
even be eager to have that someone else confiscate the fruits of
their neighbor's labor and give the fruits to someone else.

     The someone appointed to do the dirty work is usually
government.  Delegating the dirty work is no more civilized and
no less destructive of civilization than doing it personally.  The
main job of government today is to beat individuals into
submission to the desires of the various special interests, and to
take the fruits of the individual's labor for the benefit of
members of the special interest groups.

     Civilization and the prosperity that civilized behavior
allows us to produce can't survive this wholesale loss of respect
for each other.  The only possible outcome is a war of all
against all.  In the end everyone will lose everything.

aldmccallum@gmail.com
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Copyright 2014
Albert D. McCallum