Motivations.
We all have them.
Action.
Motivation leads to action.
The intensity of our motivation is, generally, proportional to the intensity of our action.
The deeply motivated have the energy to create a lot of good…and a lot of bad.
The deeply motivated can work and create in charity and giving.
The deeply motivated can create violence, disaster and war.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with doing things when deeply motivated.
But some people misidentify their motivations, trying to make their actions look valid….even righteous.
To this day, I will never understand causing violence upon another (except in self-defense), especially for the sake of one’s religion.
I’ve been told that the death penalty is a form of justice, given to us by God.
Let’s get real.
The death penalty is basically a form of punishment that keeps society from having to pay to keep a criminal alive until his natural death.
In those instances, society has determined that it would benefit the community more to use the resources that would have kept that criminal alive for other things.
That’s a valid argument.
For some, though, the death penalty is also a form of revenge.
I have been witness to people claiming “Hallelujah” when they hear a death penalty has been executed.
This has made me sad because each and every time, these people claim to be forgiving and righteous, and yet they give into the motivation of revenge and claim justice to be served. Then, they turn right around and tell me that only God can judge them.
That is called hypocrisy and it bothers me. It’s a personal thing. And my views on the death penalty should be (and might show up) in a different blog.
For now, I have something to say about recent events.
Recently, a person, who most of society feels is undeniably guilty of a crime that might have drawn the death penalty, was found, surprisingly, not guilty.
Yes, my jaw dropped when I heard the verdict.
But, what surprised me the most was how certain individuals in society have reacted to that verdict.
Some have taken it upon themselves to exact their own justice against the jurors of the case.
Those jurors are now in fear for their lives.
Be on alert, too, if you even remotely look like the accused. There have been reports of attacks on women who are guilty of no crime except for the fact that they may bear some resemblance to the accused.
There is no excuse for this behavior, in any way shape or form.
There is no excuse for this behavior, at all.
Perhaps these people need to look in their scriptures a little more.
Generally, the scriptures (whatever the religion may be) propose treating your fellow man fairly.
Sometimes, it is even thought of as more humane, dare i say righteous, to treat others better than you might treat yourself.
That can be called charity.
The motivation for this, for some, is because God says it’s the way.
I can accept that.
I also say, your motivation should be that it makes you feel good about how your actions benefit others and how it makes you feel as a person.
In the case sited above, I’m not saying “forgive and forget.” That eliminates your motivation.
Perhaps, though, today, as we want to exact revenge on people who judged someone differently than we would have, we should redirect our motivations in actions more positive and useful.
Perhaps, we should focus energies on charities or laws that help children and support the rights of our only future: our children.
Perhaps, if you feel the judicial system is flawed, you should work on changing that system.
Remember that society’s children are watching and learning. So far, those children are learning that when things don’t go their way, violence is the way to go.
Oh, wait…my parents called that “a tantrum.”
