Happiness

Others,

Cruelty was the norm in punishment when the story about the prodigal son was created. Cruelty was presented as a deterrent to criminal behavior, but people could be convicted of crime without being guilty.  Death was the norm in the code of Hammurabi, the legal document that served as a model for imperial government. 

Greeks and Romans could argue that they were better emperors than the Persians because they did not destroy their enemies. Byzantines could argue that they were better than the Romans because they did not persecute non-christians by throwing them to wild beasts in the coliseum or by killing convicts from the conquered on the cross. Nevertheless, the death penalty could be applied to non-elitists by the elitists.

The English bill of rights (1689) did not outlaw slavery. It did not propose freedom of religion. It specified the right to bear arms for Protestants.  The right to vote; to a criminal trial in a court of law before a jury of peers; and to not be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment were limited to those who subscribed to the imperial religion.

Civil and human rights came to be regarded as uniquely limited to those who agreed to worship “God” with the monarch. This concession also amounted to agreement to absolute power. The monarch could declare war based on his or her assessment of what amounted to a suitable war in the contest for the wealth of nations. The monarch could have people put to death when it suited the authority of elitism in the competition.

The "elite" did not admit to error in leadership according to elitism.  Guilt was found in those who were not judged to be part of the elite-ness of the One. Cruelty was regarded as a necessary foil to the act of remembering to show compassion for the poor, the embodiments of economic weakness.  The story of the prodigal son shows that non-elitists favored prodigal behavior as a way to see that human nature suffers from error; as the antecedent to forgiving prodigality in others.

Happiness
from Psalm 32

Happy are those who are forgiven;
whose will to harm has been left behind.

Joyful are those who are not found guilty
because there was no offense;
whose spirit has no guile.

My bones withered when I was consumed with fear.
My groaning lasted throughout the trial
to test the charge in the accusation.

My ancestry was tested.
The moisture of my soul
dried up as in the heat of summer.

I acknowledged my flaws
to refute the claim to absolute power.
I did not seek the will to power
over others with cruel punishment.

I said, “I will confess limitation
to convert my weakness into strength.”
I was forgiven for the guilt of sin.

The faithful pray in times of trouble
and thanksgiving. They are not overcome
with consumption due to feelings of guilt.

You are my hiding place LORD.
You will preserve me from troubles in trial.
You will surround me with shouts of deliverance.

“I will instruct you in the way that you should go.
I will guide you with the light of insight.

“Do not be like the ignorant beast
that does not seek to increase understanding.

“Admit to ignorance when the confession is due
and you will not be subjected to continuous correction.”

Those who order or perform evil acts
deserve greater punishment
than the justice in human government
can provide.

Mercy embraces those who have faith.
Be glad, you faithful! Rejoice in the LORD!
Shout for joy, all who are true of heart!”

==========================

The western world has been showing those outside the NATO alliance that it does not respect civil or human rights for those who don’t support elitism in the capitalist enterprise for the industry of war. The Islamic world has little reason to respect the western contention that government should respect civil and human rights. The coalition has shown disrespect for the independence of foreign nations with two invasions, drone warfare, torture, cruelty in punishment and laxity in correction. Disrespect has been shown for the rights of non-elitists.

It is one thing to be among the elite by training and performance in service to others. It is another to be elite because things were set up for your advantage. The elitist advantage as instituted by Congress does not require effort for excellence. It reinforces the claim to absolute power over others. Excellence in performance has effort justification as a self-perpetuating benefit for society. Elitism by decree makes work seem like a joke.

Perfection in being requires improvement as needed. It is not holiness in being freed from responsibility.

The act of prayer is an acknowledgement that needed improvements require help for achievement. Prayer is like a note to God. The following song celebrates the ability to acknowledge the need for help in achieving improvement that is needed.

Charice – Note to God
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju_A-T4ZjUo&feature=endscreen&NR=1
I’d say give us the strength to make it through.
Help us find love ‘cause love is overdue.
It seems like so much is going wrong
on this road we’re on.

I am what I am for who I am, but I respect others as respect for law in order to govern action for civil rights.

We are what we are for who we are, but we need to respect others as respect for the rule of law in order to extend alliance for human rights.

Steve K.

The Rule of Law

Others,

The goodness of the law revives the soul.
http://bible.cc/psalms/19-7.htm

The UN convened a meeting to explore the rule of law.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/iran-s-ahmadinejad-denounces-israel-u-s-in-speech-to-un-1.968945

“Ban called on all states to apply the law equally, both nationally and internationally, and not allow political self-interest to undermine justice. He also called on world leaders "to uphold the highest standards of the rule of law in their decision-making at all times."”

Ahmadinejad criticized a fake regime regarding the silence that was expressed regarding nuclear warheads. Israel walked out. The US remained. He also pledged to do what he can to end the civil war in Syria.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/ahmadinejad-i-will-do-everything-in-my-power-to-end-syria-war-1.970200

 Netanyahu expressed his desire for a red-line for Iran regarding the development of nuclear power in Iran.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/27/us-un-assembly-israel-iran-idUSBRE88Q0GI20120927

Ahmad Vahidi, Defense Minister for Iran, observed that Israel had already crossed their own redline.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j_zxkpzQl5QS6azx8gbHHSqy4Y8Q?docId=CNG.3cd430d3c4377dcc47724222f75a5d76.01

The English bill of rights revolutionized government representation in 1689. The bill included the right to self-defense (bear arms), freedom of speech and a provision against cruel and unusual punishment.

The freedoms of assembly (association) and religion were added to the US bill of rights. It is becoming clear that the freedom to assemble in (non-violent) protest; in association with unions; and in the organization of political parties are not recognized globally. This becomes critically important when people are being shot for protest or for not belonging to “the party.” Not respecting the right to freedom of assembly is a serious human rights violation.

Freedom of assembly provides the basis for oppositional parties that counteract the excesses or deficiencies of a single party. Debate is encouraged in the interest of finding best solutions.

Freedom of religion is an extension that was developed from the treaty of Westphalia in 1648. The treaty recognized the peace of Augsburg (1555) wherein the official choice of the Catholic or Protestant Churches was left the prince of the province, but citizens of the other denomination were entitled to worship in their Church. They were not allowed violent sedition against the crown.

Madison recognized that the choice of religion belongs to the citizen. Congress was not to make any laws that prohibited the free exercise of faith or established a religion as official.

The Rule of Law

Ps.19, Ps.124, James 5

The goodness of law revives the soul.
The testimony of truth is sure.
It gives wisdom to the innocent
so the heart will rejoice.

The rule of law is just.
No one is above it.
The Creator established nature.
The law of the land is to reflect
the intelligence of design.

The law against killing is clear.
It gives light to the mind.
No one can kill another
without consequence.

Murder is a capital crime.
Multiple murders compound
the offense.
Genocide is larger still, but
wars for aggression
are unconscionable.

Respect for the law is good.
It endures with constancy.
Good judgments are true
and righteous.

Fairness is more valuable than gold;
more than much of the finest gold;
sweeter than honey:
more so than honey
in the comb.

If the rule for law was not on our side,
let the people now say;
if the law had not been for us
when contention rose up against us;
the waters of enmity would have overwhelmed us.

We would have been consumed by the flood;
the raging rush would have gone right over us
and dashed us against the hardness of matter.

Freedom in the law of nature
commends liberty in the rule for law.

Freedom of religion recommends
competition for morality
in the economy.

Freedom of assembly allows for
oppositional organization.
Oppositional organization
recommends debate for best solutions.
Best solutions have to be devised
for diversity among the people.
It is not best to limit representation
to the wealthiest.

Objectivity in justice
is non-discriminatory.
It is not absolute in partiality
to any;
not to the rich
or the poor;
the majority
or the minority;
management or labor;
men or women;
the right or the left;
the private or public sectors;
the religious or the non-religious;
the old, the young
or the in between.

Liberty and justice are for all.
They are for each in regard
to the right degree.
They are for the free exercise of faith,
but against the establishment
of religion by the state.

If any among you wander
from the way of liberty with justice
and is brought back by another,
the one who saved the lost
will be redeemed
from many errors.

====================

Austerity is cruel. It measures out provision for less than enough to cover basic needs. Severe austerity refuses to give enough to stimulate growth in the economy to provide for basic needs. Economic sanctions act as a promotion for austerity.

Iran has the right to develop nuclear power as an alternative energy source. The west needs to present a declaration of intent regarding the purpose for the sanctions. What is wanted? Are we looking for a constitutional theocracy? Will they revise their constitution to place the Ayatollah in an advisory position? Will they endorse freedom of assembly for oppositional representation? Will they establish a provision for freedom of religion?

It is cruel and unusual to continue economic sanctions for an action that is not an aggressive threat to the security of another nation. The development of nuclear power is a viable option. They will be monitored by nuclear regulations just like everybody else. Another regime change by invasion is out of the question. The physical destruction was immense. The death toll was too large. The economic consequence rocked the world.
http://world.time.com/2012/09/27/how-many-civilians-would-be-killed-in-an-attack-on-irans-nuclear-sites/

The industry for war has been like heroine for the elitists in non-civilized "civilization." War industry numbers indicate that more money is made by destruction, then by diplomacy, stable international relations, commerce and tourism. Invasion for regime change then is being promoted as the modern alternative to colonization. It is the most current “needle” for the “heroine” known as industry profit.

Neil Young – The Damage Done
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ligse2KJPI&feature=related

I’ve seen the needle and the damage done
a little part of it in everyone
but every junkie’s like a setting sun.

The west needs rehab to establish non-aggression as an international law.

Steve K.