Law is a double edge sword: it can kill you; it can save you.
Law is a set of rules to make sure that people do not commit crime. At most times, law is somehow related/ linked to crimes. In fact, law is the answer to crime (though sometimes not a perfect answer, but how can we get perfect answers in life? and so on. You get the point.)!
I think that crimes are problems in the society, and by enforcing laws, we can make sure that people do not commit these crimes. But I don't think that laws should be too restrictive to the point that human rights are overlooked.
Law also serves as a protection for us. It protects us as 'victims' and demands compensation from the 'attacker'. Law protects us from unseen dangers. This is indescribable because not all dangers are seen, some are well, abstract.
Let me give you an example where law protects you. Imagine you are a worker and you are often abused by your employer. You want to leave, but you are bound with a contract. Helpless, you can't leave. What can you do? This is where law comes in to protect you from your abusive employer.
If now I have planted the mindset on you that Law is heaven where equality and fairness is finally counted, then well, it seems a little harsh to say this but you are wrong.
Law is not as perfect as I narrated. Yes, it upholds justice but at times, law itself ain't fair. Why again? you ask. Well, nothing in the world is fair- that's a fact. We are humans, and no matter how many times we revise laws, it isn't going to be perfect and it obviously doesn't have the magical ability to please EVERYONE in the world. But what we can do is to try to make it as fair as possible.
And with the implementation of law, freedom is gone. Not completely gone but it depends on how you look at freedom. If freedom for you is to go out and unleash your inner violence with random children/ people on the street, then well, law prevented this catastrophe from happening. Good for the law. If freedom for you is to enjoy your life and do whatever you want with it, as long as it's not illegal, then law doesn't forbid you to do any of those.
Some people also says that law is what makes us civilised. I can only partially agree (though yes, without laws, we MIGHT be barbarians, but we don't know, so how can we assume?) but let me stress that law is not the bedrock of a cilivised society. Law does contributes a little but that is not the essence of civilisation. Law is just a teeny-weeny section of our civilisation, as our mindset and our habits and our technological advancements play quite a great part in civilisation.
Dear geeks who think that law makes us civilised people (such as but not limited to Maxwell and the rest of the people/ world who stands on his side),
Is law the reason that we are civilised? I have been pondering on this question for quite a few days and I'm glad to say I have reached a point where I can form a rebuttal in response to those who disagree with me.
First of all, I admit that law do makes a civilised. In fact, law really does play a part in civilisation, but I'd say that the part law plays would be rather minute.
When I say civilisation, images such as we, humans not living in caves, not wearing any clothes except a small leaf/ cloth to cover our private parts, not being babarians who eat up other humans, we wash our hands before we eat and after we do our business, we coexist harmoniously, we say please and thank you, we have languages (speaking English now), we are not rude people etc etc etc etc.
And how many of those I mentioned above is stated in the law?
1. Is cannibalism ILLEGAL?
- fyi, it was legal in Mexico last time, but to my knowledge, not many countries have definite rules to address the issue of cannibalism.
2. Is wearing a piece of cloth only covering your private parts AGAINST THE LAW?
- yes in some Muslim countries due to their religious beliefs.
3. Is living in caves ILLEGAL?
4. Does law require us to wash our hands before we eat and after we have done our businesses?
5. Does law make us coexist harmoniously?
6. Does law require us to say please and thank you and have an appropriate moral conduct?
7. Does law tells us to converse in languages?
Do you see? I bet you have some answers to my questions but do you get the whole picture and the point that I'm trying to proof here?
Yes, law does play a part in civlisation but I have to say hat law is not the essence of civilisation!
Some nice quotes I grabbed off the internet!
And the BEST for the LAST!
Sometimes, I couldn't agree more. (:
Law-ing,
Nicole X
PS- By the way, if you have any interesting answers to my question, please tell me by commenting below. I don't know everything, but perhaps you do have an answer. Please do comment. (:
Nicole, have I ever told you that you are a very intelligent girl. WELL UNFORTUNATELY, your questions can be answered by me and only ME. First of all you stated that it is legal to commit into cannibalism in mexico, well i wold just like to say, HOW OFTEN DO YOU FIND A BODY ON THE STREETS THESE DAYS? We do not EAT humans because we have good food to eat, we have good food to eat because there are people selling food to us, people sell food to us because they HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING, they have to earn money because THEY CANNOT STEAL, they cannot steal because THE LAW PREVENTS THEM TO DO SO. However this is the answer for the first question only, if you want to know more about others, please contact me or make an appointment with me when i am free. THANK YOU NICOLE. (:
ReplyDeleteErm Maxwell, unfortunately in many countries, the issue of cannibalism isn't addressed clearly. Im still trying to find answers to this but currently, many countries don't encourage it and doesn't prohibit it too. And you know why? We don't practice cannibalism anymore. And why? Because we are civilised people. Did law teach us that? Or did we slowly realise that cannibalism is just terrible and aint ethical?
ReplyDeleteYou said "we do not eat humans because we do not have good food to eat"- well how in the world do you know that human meat aint good for consumption? How do you know it aint tasty?
And "we have good food because people are selling food to us", are ALL the food people sell good for us? How do you know? Ever heard of food poisoning? Good food? Ever tasted terrible food? Like yucky corn?
I'd love to have an appointment with you to listen to your GODLY views on this matter.
Have a good day,
Nicole.
Have you ever heard of the term EVOLUTION. We are slowly getting weaker and weaker physically. DO YOU KNOW THAT OUR TEETH ARE SHRINKING CENTURIES ATER CENTURIES! Now, just because of a little thing, we get food poisoning, our stomach is getting weaker. Before we were civilized we hunt and we grunt, we are so used to it, it is part of our everyday life. We are so used to living a physical life, we are so fit, and tough, i don't think an average barbarian would ever get food poisoning from eating human meat. I guess they eat it all the time. They'd probably puke when they eat our food, who knows..
ReplyDeleteSo now you are saying that evolution caused us to be civilised? Is that what are you trying to imply? And I think youre moving a lil off topic. :P
ReplyDeletewWe evolve because we have to.. Because law made us use our brains to think and make this world a little bit pleasant. If you wish to know more please contact me to make an appointment.
ReplyDelete