MORAL MINIMA; Ethics in a Society Lost

                 Using “Some Moral Minima” (Len E. Goodman/2010) as a reference; my intention with this paper is to peer into my own psyche and show perspective that universal moral conduct is a vital component in maintaining societal peace and prosperity. Mr. Goodman outlines a minima of global issues including but not excluded to; polygamy, human trafficking, genital mutilation and military child recruitment. Being asked to assume a position on the acts in relation to culture or society and choose whether the act is wrong or right. I would be remiss if I did not emphatically state that these acts should be considered reprehensible, wrong.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                   I am delighted to have the opportunity to take a written position on right and wrong, I personally live by a four word foundation for my life and I practice using the words as an active conduit between myself and humane treatment of all I come into contact with. I know that what I share may not be academic in its’ content, it is however equally as pertinent in the notion of right and wrong.

                     My four word foundation for life is” Willingness, Accountability, Sacrifice  and Negotiation”,  Consider it my spiritual black card if you will; 

1. Willingness- An individual ability to proactively seek out purpose in any and all interactions----the action of being 100% present wherever I AM. 
2. Accountability-My individual ability to maturely account for my actions ---100% truth. 
3. Sacrifice-I AM always willing to discuss the terms of an agreement. I AM willing to compromise in the name of what is best for the whole.
4. Negotiation-I AM always willing to work through objectives to meet the needs of the whole. (7 Steps to Kill My nigga; Bahtyah B. Israel-2011) 

                    I insert this relatively in response to moral code of conduct, taking for granted that this process is instituted in a righteous manner, it leaves open the ultimate possibility for win-win outcomes and power sharing in opposition to power mongering. However, as stated in “Some Moral Minima-Len. E. Goodman-2010)”; “Matilal’s aim was consensus, which often carries blandness as its price—if not compromise of principle. Yet compromise is the stuff of politics.”

                   Let us; for the sake premise define “politics”. Politics as defined by Mirriam Webster online (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/politics) is a set of definitions; listed are those most relevant to the position I am taking. “Politics- : the art or science of government  b : the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy  c : the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government 2: political actions, practices, or policies 3 a : political affairs or business; especially : competition between competing interest groups or individuals for power and leadership (as in a government) b : political life especially as a principal activity or profession c : political activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices 4: the political opinions or sympathies of a person 5a : the total complex of relations between people living in society.” Politics, by definition, is ambiguous at best. There is an innate concept of trickery involved in politics because politics is relevant to the politician and individual agenda, needs and/or wants. As a byline of the definition it would seem plausible that “sympathies” could be feigned and false alliances created that have a relative hand in the day to day activities of civilians. Politicization of the issue creates never ending banter between politicians, and politics easily usurps human need. If we continue to fail to look at actions from a paradigm of right and wrong, we, as a society will continue to fail at humanity.

                  One must beg the question who really benefits from the mass destruction, violent and terroristic descent upon nations and human trafficking----we have to ask is there an omnipotent power system that holds these ties together?  Has there ever been a society that lived via application of ideologies of right and wrong?  How do you really feel about the politics and politicization of human need?  I find this line of inquiry to be base for bridge building from the political practice we currently exist; into a flourishing humane commune of health, wealth and prosperity.

                 In closing, just for the sake of reference and history; I would like to identify an ancient civilization whose lifestyle utilized right and wrong as a conduit for qualitative and quantative life. I cite the Ancient Egyptians and the practiced doctrine of the time; Ma’at. “Ma’at is a comprehensive construct that existed throughout ancient Egyptian civilization. Cosmologically, maat is the principle of order that informs the creation of the universe. Religiously, Ma'at is a goddess or neter representing order or balance. Last, philosophically, Ma;at is a moral and ethical principle that all Egyptians were expected to embody in their daily actions toward family, community, nation, environment, and god. This work extends maat beyond the boundaries of ancient Egyptian culture and tests its conceptual elasticity by developing it into an catalytic tool for studying classical African cosmological knowledge and how it relates to cultural expression. It focuses on the conceptualization of Ma'at as the foundation of the universe and then uses the manner in which Ma'at appears in ancient Egyptian culture as a basis for distinguishing patterns within classical African knowledge. This pattern contains 10 characteristics or dimensions: sacred, symbolic, visual, functional, moral, oral, communal, rhythmic, multidimensional, and holistic.”( Ma'at and Order in African Cosmology A Conceptual Tool for Understanding Indigenous Knowledge Denise Martin-Journal of Black Studies-2008)

                The information shared in this paper is my personal position. I have interpreted, hypothesized, and now I shall conclude. In my humble opinion and based on the information I have presented in this paper; I am confident that there are certain behaviors, acts and motives that are wrong. I cannot come up with a rational argument for that. Now, should the question transform itself to is there a right in a wrong situation? That is a different paper. In my conclusion I will apply my best self to always securely discern right from wrong and veer myself towards a community that works toward the healing of a hurt people to recreate environments to reflect the true beauty that resides within each human being.