It's a Duty; Not a Choice

      Many people see problems within our world, but more often than not, they choose to ignore them as if they are not affected by them.  Unfortunately, it is not that simple.  In the good old days, a man would give the shirt off his back to help a neighbor in need.  Despite our great past, most of the modern day world fails to live these traditional values.  I hate to say it, but we are making hatred, discrimination, and animosity tradition.  There are still some places in which one could find traditional hospitable values, but they are now few and far between.  If I see someone getting robbed out on the street, you bet, I'm going to jump in and do whatever I can to stop the injustice.  I don't want someone stealing from me, my friends, or my family, so why should it be different regarding a stranger's property?  It is a shame that our country has become so materialistic and shallow.  There are still some areas in the country where you can find true manners and hospitality.  Small town America is what comes to my mind.  Everyone works like a machine to make things right.  If a man does something wrong, he is expected to make it right.  People are expected to work for their keep, to treat spouses with respect, and to live an honest life.  The Amish community epitomizes this great culture.  It all boils down to the people: not the possessions.  

      It is hard to practice what you preach, but if you live by the Golden Rule, it makes life a lot easier to respect the rights of others.  Bystanders who take no action to correct an injustice in the world are just as guilty of a crime as the person ordering the crime.  The average German soldier was just as guilty regarding the genocide of the Jews as Adolf Hitler.  Macbeth's men are also just as guilty of murder as Macbeth.  I tend to think back to the writing of the Declaration of Independence regarding this topic.  The men who wrote the Declaration of Independence said that If one sees an injustice in government, it is his responsibility as a citizen of that state to make an attempt to right the wrong if he has the means.  A large population has much more power than a couple of radicals.  If the German people decided to stand up to Hitler, they would have won hands down, and Hitler would have been regarded as a lunatic and placed in an asylum to live out his days.  Capesius had the opportunity to be better than Hitler, but he chose to stoop to Hitler's level and assist in the mass murder of the Jewish population in Europe, as well as many Allied soldiers.  It is better to die as a hero than to live as a criminal.  Macbeth's men as well as the countless Nazis and innocent bystanders had the chance to become heroes, but unfortunately, they chose to become criminals just like Hitler and Macbeth.  

      I am not saying that we can stand up to every injustice in the world.  In the end, we are still humans, but united in one cause, we can become stronger than any evil force in the world.  People say, " it doesn't affect me", or "It will be too expensive".  I guess that comes down to how much a human life is worth.  I'm sorry, but a country as powerful and as resourceful as The United States of America should not allow genocides to go on in other parts of the world.  It doesn't matter what the price tag is.  It is wrong to allow the murders of millions of people in Sudan without interference.  Most people (I hope) would speak out against someone bullying another or stealing from someone, but we need to be more conscious about our world and deal with these massive injustices with a swift and firm fist.  As said by the framers of the Constitution and the writers of the Declaration of Independence, it is our duty to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.