A Line in the Sand

     There are times in everyone's life when we have to stop and ponder our next steps. Sometimes it requires action on our part that may not be well received by others. When we as humans take those steps, it can sometime create that line in the sand.

     It's a time on our life where we say, from this point forward, we will make a change. This could mean changing jobs, friends, or even locations. If anyone has ever done this step. It should be a lesson from what we did in the past and to learn from our mistakes and successes. 

     I believe that in order for all of us to move forward in life we sometimes have to make those hard choices. It should also mean, we will not go back and rehash old problems, we will move forward. It should mean we will not justify new wrongs, by past mistakes.  Learning from our mistakes should be a growth for us as humans. 

     Lets apply these simple principles to government, Hollywood, reporters and even our education system. If we want to see people held accountable for actions, make admen's for past wrongs or create a better future. Then we all should agree, drawing a line in the sand is a good start. 

     For me it also means from this point forward, all people will be treated the same way.  Now criminals that commit crimes should pay for their crimes. No questions asked. I support the death penalty. I actually support making criminals work hard labor and not get a free ride. (That will be a different blog)

     It's too often in our culture that we as humans justify current mistakes on past actions. My question is, when did it become okay to jump off a bridge when your buddy jumped? Without even a thought to if its right or wrong. 

     We have an obvious double standard in our society.  We accept rappers and hip hop artist using foul language about each other and towards women.  Then we penalize someone else for something they said years ago. A statement they have apologized for and at the end of the day, is from their past.  Why are people in society penalizing something that this person said in their past, yet they do not want to do the same for our POTUS, or anyone in government.  They simply say that it has not affect on anyone at this time and is long ago over.

     Is it not wrong to hold only certain people to a certain standard and not all?  If we want true equality then, we all should be held to the same standard. Not when it's convenient.   

     Next more than a few people do not care about right or wrong. These people do not have a good moral compass. Morality is not limited to those in religion. Morality is defined as "conformity to ideals of right human conduct."  I dare say, there are a large number of people that do not know what is right or wrong. 

     Their moral compass is so far off course, it will take time to get it back in place. I have faith though in humans that they are inherently good people. They want to do right by others. It's possible the hardships of the past or the people they choose to associate with have influenced them heavily. We want to bend towards a political or race based outlook versus the outlook of is it right or wrong.  

     It is only through the greater good of mankind, that we will ride above the petty  fights and bickering. It is through us all working together to achieve a common goal of a better place to live. The differences in our society will always be people see how to help others and do good in different lights.  That is a good thing and will only improve our way of life, as long as people are open mined and willing to look at problems in different points of view.

    Too many times, we dismiss others point of view as wrong or not the correct path.  What we should be doing is saying, okay, I do not like the entire idea, there is a good part in it that we can use.  That is called compromise.  It's called getting the job done together, team work.

     Dare I say, that people with a good moral compass, have a better understanding and are more willing to draw lines in the sand?  It's possible they do and can make a more informed decision.  The one thing I do know, we are not perfect in our actions. I have yet to meet a human that does not make mistakes or the wrong decisions.  It is those people though, that learn from their mistakes, draw a line in the sand, and move forward, that learn the most valuable of life's lessons.

     An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.
Martin Luther King, Jr.