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ALL SOCIETIES, NO MATTER how tiny or significant, or from where they derive, have codes. There are laws contrived to keep tabs on things. Some are written and many are spoken. Others are just known—like wind that will come again after a hot summer’s day or even rainfall. But in every tribe, there are moral standards too. And in all groups, these boundaries are pushed and played with. It’s just the curse of human nature. That is, in our sins we somehow find salvation.
We’ve all heard the saying before: United we stand, divided we fall. But we’ve never considered before who “we” are. We’ve never defined “us.” Instead, we have focused on species, location, mental abilities and disabilities, or even religious differences, and made things a matter of “they” verses “us”—the ultimate battle for survival. And somewhere along the line, the people who hold God’s word to a literal meaning forgot the part about all his creatures being equal. And that is our biggest mortal weakness.
Like the temptress and the apple, we’ve subscribed to Satan’s will in proclaiming ourselves the better species or even person. The result of this means more than the actions we take. We still rush down to the breakfast table for sausage. We pay no attention to the living animal we slayed at the cost of our taste buds. We do this, fat-faced with greed, entirely unconcerned that someone might be watching.
For a population to truly be resilient, they must define the weakest participant. What qualities does that member have and why? Where are the person’s flaws? The group must decide: Where lies the danger in including him or her? And, once this is determined, a tribe must elect how to make this member stronger or to throw them out altogether. Or, they can ignore it altogether exactly as we do.
Is it possible that we mere mortals have it all wrong? It’s probably true. Be warned: In the end, the effect trumps the cause, and we will have a lot to answer for. It won’t be limited merely to humans, those we have things in common with, or members of our own tribes. It will be the big picture—all of it. We were told: For the meek will inherit the earth. For the good shall have the final word. And we’ll continue to ignore it. Because that’s what insanity is. Muti killers or not, I reckon we’re all a little crazy. Human. Flawed. Lost. In these ways, we’re all locked up.
Amen.
The Ten Golden Rules:
They are simple.
Do not mistake humble for weak, nor meek for frail.
Don’t confuse empathy with stupidity, or honesty with foolhardiness.
At no time underestimate the power of gratitude.
Always be appreciative and sincere.
Forever hold true the virtues of integrity and patience.
Never assume.
***
The Ten Rules of Karma:
They are certain.
Expectations based on pretenses often come with a price tag too high for even the loftiest of egos. Arrogance is certain to find its way back to powerlessness.
Those who put themselves first always die unaided, afraid, and eventually overlooked.
Honor comes not with manipulation or forced servitude.
What you give is what you receive tenfold.
Truth is in action and intention alone.
***
The Word:
The meek shall inherit the earth.
Or so they said...
VEGAN