DUTY

THOUGH I HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF BEING TOO CYNICAL, I CHOOSE TO STAND UNCORRECTED. CYNICISM IS THE ONLY EFFECTIVE PRISM WITH WHICH TO PROPERLY VIEW THE SUBJECT OF RIGHTS. I CONSTANTLY HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE'S RIGHTS. CRIME VICTIMS HAVE RIGHTS. A DISCUSSION GROUPS DISCUSSES RIGHTS. CITIZENS HAVE RIGHTS. PROJECTS, PROGRAMS AND GRANTS USING TAXPAYERS' MONEY (UNBEKNOWNST TO THEM NO DOUBT) FOCUS ON PEOPLE'S RIGHTS. MOST CRIMES ARE PERPETRATED BY A FAMILY MEMBER OR ACQUAINTENCE WHO HAS OBVIOUSLY DEPRIVED SOMEONE OF HIS OR HER RIGHTS AND DISPLAY A FAILURE IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS. LITIGANTS IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL COURTS RARELY FEEL THEIR TRESPASSED RIGHTS HAVE BEEN REDRESSED. IN SPITE OF SUCH RIP OFFS, IT'S NO REVELATION THAT THE SALVE OF HEALING IS TIME.

BUT RARELY ADDRESSED ARE THE DUTIES CORRESPONDING TO RIGHTS. LIKE A PROVERBIAL "EQUAL AND OPPOSITE REACTION," EACH RIGHT IMPLIES A COMPLEMENTARY DUTY. I NEVER HEAR THE WORD DUTY - DUTY TO FAMILY, DUTY TO THE LAW, DUTY TO COUNTRY, DUTY TO DECENCY AND DIGNITY, DUTY TO HUMAN LIFE, DUTY TO SOCIETY, DUTY TO ONE'S SELF. WHY? DUTY ( OR RESPONSIBILITY ) IMPLIES COMMITMENT AND HARD WORK. THAT'S WHY. RIGHTS ARE SO MUCH EASIER TO CHAMPION.

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. IS THIS CYNICISM BECAUSE I DEPLORE THE EASY WAY OUT, THE FUNDED SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS, THE PERSPECTIVE OF VICTIMHOOD? I ALSO CHOOSE TO STAND UNCORRECTED BECAUSE I CONCUR WITH THE OTHER CYNICS, THE ANCIENT GREEKS, WHO REGARDED VIRTUE AS THE SUPREME GOOD AND BELIEVED THAT MAN'S CONDUCT SHOULD BE BASED ON SELF-INTEREST. THEIR PHILOSOPHY FITS MINE NICELY. IF PEOPLE PRACTICED MORE SELF-INTEREST IN THEIR DUTIES TO EACH OTHER AND TO SOCIETY, BASED ON A COMMON SENSE SYSTEM OF MORALITY, THERE WOULD BE LITTLE NEED FOR FOOT-STOMPING ABOUT MY RIGHTS, MY RIGHTS, MY RIGHTS.

I ONCE VOLUNTEERED TO TALK ON A CRISIS HOT-LINE. I WAS FIRED! BEATS ME WHY.