I was thinking as I sit here watching them haul off the chopped up bits of the once proud and noble willow tree in front of our office building so they can put in another parking lot. It should be illegal to chop down willow trees. They are sacred to the goddess and we should make a law that anyone chopping down a willow tree will be summarily sent to jail.
But, then I realized that I can no more force my beliefs on others than I want others to force their beliefs on me. So where does that leave us all? The anti-abortionists think we should make it illegal for a woman to have a certain kind of elective surgery. The gun lobby thinks it should be illegal for anyone to curb their ability to buy and store large arsenals in their homes. I think it should be illegal to cut down willow trees. So what do we do? Make everything illegal? Just sit on our hands in our homes and do nothing all day? I think it should be legal for a woman to do whatever she wants to with her own body. I think every gun from rocket launchers to water pistols should be melted down for scrap. And some people think that a willow is just very large plant. A chair in waiting.
I truly envy people who know they are 100% right about 100% of everything 100% of the time. It certainly makes the world a much easier place. I know what I think is right and I am very firm in my beliefs. And I find it very difficult to understand those who don't think like I do on some things. And I am never shy about explaining to someone why I think they are wrong. But where should the line be drawn? When should it move from "Yeah, but this is the right way and I just need to convice you of it" to "I'm right, you're wrong and I'm gonna make a law cause I can".
Well, I'm young yet. I suppose I have time to ponder this one. Stay tuned. I have a rant perculating about the governmental checks and balances system.
at 11:25 AM :: ~#~
