As I watch the clouds scurry across the sky, casting shadows on the bright green field, a field that should have snow on it, I am contemplating the various issues that affect our state and our nation. From protestors being arrested in Boise, to the national uproar over the Israeli Prime Minister’s message to the US Congress, to the Idaho Legislature’s discussion about allowing non-doctor-present abortions over the internet, I can’t help but think that the answer to these and the many other social problems that plague our state, nation and world lie much deeper than a new law or international pact.
The answers lie at the very core of human nature. Those who see our nature as basically good would argue that given the right environment, we will all grow up to be good, law-abiding citizens. I find it difficult to see any positive evidence of this in any society, regardless of its social structure. Band-Aid politics is an attempt to make this type of system work by pasting our society with rules and regulations to make things better. So far there is not much evidence that it works.
Reality suggests that we do not start life as basically good people. Rather, we are flawed from the beginning. We need to emphasize the importance of the spiritual aspect of our lives and make sure that we have internalized the truths of God in order to have a viable, functioning society. We have gone afar from this perspective and unless we return, we will find ourselves in greater difficulty in the years ahead.
The answers lie at the very core of human nature. Those who see our nature as basically good would argue that given the right environment, we will all grow up to be good, law-abiding citizens. I find it difficult to see any positive evidence of this in any society, regardless of its social structure. Band-Aid politics is an attempt to make this type of system work by pasting our society with rules and regulations to make things better. So far there is not much evidence that it works.
Reality suggests that we do not start life as basically good people. Rather, we are flawed from the beginning. We need to emphasize the importance of the spiritual aspect of our lives and make sure that we have internalized the truths of God in order to have a viable, functioning society. We have gone afar from this perspective and unless we return, we will find ourselves in greater difficulty in the years ahead.