Rule of Law

The other day a friend of mine and myself was having a healthy argument about capital punishment,a polarizing topic .What was interesting was an exchange that we had.He was going on about how much faith he had in the law.My response was that you shouldn't put all your faith in the law because of its flaws.His reply was without the law what do we have?

Judging from his demeanour, I could tell he had stumped many opponents with this question.Without sounding haughty,it did not take long for me to answer him.Without rehearsal I answered "the morality of men".

Call me an idealist or a hopeless romantic but I believe that it is the morality of men,right and good conduct of men,that prevents the world from plunging into total chaos.

The law punishes crime.Isn't it much better to prevent a violation against mankind through good conduct?Morality stems form the inherent quality of love that exists in each and every man and woman.Some of us allow it to flourish while others quench it.

Let us not forget that it was through laws, segregation thrived in the southern United States and apartheid bloomed in South Africa.It was laws that aided Nazi Germany to dehumanize Jews.

It was not until men and women, inflamed with morality,fought against these evils.They opened the eyes of the world to these injustices. These pillars of degradation would have been intact if they had not stood up.

For every wrongdoing there is a punishment.I believe that.The law actually works after an offense.It should be more divine to prevent acts against humanity through our own moral gauges.

The law will not save us. It is the goodness of men that must be increased in order for us all to survive.A quote attributed to Edmund Burke says,"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."Something to think on and digest in these trying times.