Bad

 

What is ‘bad’?

If someone harms you, that is ‘bad’, but how bad?

That is what laws are for. To judge the amount of harm and assign retribution to those who did the harm is our justice system. This is our civilized balance of good and evil as generations have decided works the best. Tomorrow it will all change.

What was acceptable yesterday is bad today. Our society is like that. We change opinions of good and evil, thus changing our punishment for being ‘bad’.

If we all followed the word of the law, we’d all stop at stop signs. We’d act kindly to strangers. We wouldn’t say offensive words that would normally get our mouth washed with soap. We’d let others be themselves. We’d accept our punishment without question.

We are not only judged by some lawyer who made the bench but by our peers. In prosecution or defense what is ‘bad’ is defined to accept or reject.

Like we have different religions, what is ‘bad’ for you, might not be ‘bad’ to me. How do you pay for your ancestor’s sins or your own?

Putting each other in cages like a human zoo the solution for ‘bad’? Were the animals ‘bad’? How long do you house ‘bad’ people? What about housing ‘poor’ people? What about housing ‘sick’ people? Who pays for all that housing? When do they release animals out of the zoo?

If in fear for your life is it ‘bad’ to rid the fear?

If the police or law enforcement cannot arrive in time to deal with the situation, who defines what is ‘bad’?

There have been times when the decision of the moment is to cut off the hand of a thief or lynching a cattle rustler, the justice certainly sent a message to the next person who had contemplated being ‘bad’. Was it fair, humane, righteous or shameful to our societies deepest feelings, history will record and analysis? Books will be written and amendments will be made to existing laws for future generations to evaluate.

There are all sorts of rules and regulations on what is good and what is ‘bad’, but you can tell by your gut feelings. Egging a window or batting a mailbox might give that instant thrill to entertain the group you are with and give the impression you are ‘bad’, but you know it is wrong but don’t go back and say you are sorry for being stupid to impress others.

The impulsive of being ‘bad’ can be fueled by testosterone, but driving through a stop sign and killing a family of four; there are no take backs. Spitting in another’s face while screaming your opinion can mark your spot; but when the trigger is pulled it is too late.

I don’t follow the Bible, but try and adhere to the Golden Rule. I have tried to pull back when I get to that edge of doing permanent damage. I avoid temptations but point out what I consider acceptable until you think about it.

There are laws against animal abuse. There could be more, but we don’t view our neighbors as equals but only dumb beast of burden used until slaughtered for our backyard grill.

You’ve seen it happen on the viral YouTube videos, just like the school fights or worse. If the Homo sapiens feel so superior, why not take on a tiger with a penknife? Or even a squirrel?  You will lose.

Kick my dog?

They will find you strapped to a tree naked upside down face to the bark alone with your thoughts at the pleasure of nature.

That’s bad.