“With No Malice”©2012
A General Interest Opinion Column by an opinionated person.
Vic Topmiller Jr.
02/11/13(71)

“Dim Damn Demographics”
Compromise??

Compromise - “The sacrifice of one right or one good in the hope of retaining another, too often leading to the loss of both.” Tyron Edwards

A lot of folks have spent a lifetime trying to understand for sure what is right and wrong and determine a system of values usually based around those found in the Scriptures or some other system of religious adherence for the basis of their belief of right and wrong.

I wonder, just how long would a person search for this value system and how quick would they give it up if it became uncomfortable? It would be hard to say. As Einstein said once or twice: "each formula must be evaluated in its own kitchen.” Hey, that's great, I can relate to stuff in the kitchen. But going on, he used an example that had nothing to do with the kitchen, unless of course you were in the dining car. What he said was: now pay attention, if you are standing in a railroad car and looking out the window it appears that the train is motionless and the ground out side is moving past at a rapid pace. However, if on the other hand you are standing on the station platform and are watching the train race by it appears that the station platform is motionless and the train is rushing by. Which gets us to what this is all about.

When talking values it is hard to predict the value system of another person unless you are intimately involved with the person from start to finish. Like you know about his (or her) beginnings, growings up and even current and contemporary goings on and episodes of good and bad fortune. Know anybody that well? Well! There are some we know that well, and when we do we can begin to see issues and events over time that nudge their value system one way or another. I guess it boils down to the fact that we aren't going to see things exactly the same no matter what. It isn't going to happen. Be compassionate and considerate and know that each person has his or her own kitchen. But there is a difference in having a value system somewhat slanted from the guy down the street who because of circumstances in the early development of his mental wiring and having a value system that is for sale to the highest bidder. That's entirely two different issues. That's politics as usual.

Let me give you another analogy.
Guy one - there is one person whose value system is inflexible. This person sees his system as divinely given or maybe mandated and each issue must be rigidly evaluated within his parameters. A difficult person to deal with. But give him credit, he believes what he believes—he's no sheep. Whatever his value system was gleaned from, even years ago, it does not change.

Okay, Another guy—maybe he used the same or similar rules to land upon his value system. Just maybe in the beginning, this guy found his set of rules on the same set that the previous guy used. The difference? This guy has decided, based on his own convictions, that his value system is a living system and follows concurrently with the way of society.

Okay, you decide, is either guy right or wrong? Both right? Both wrong?

Guy two—he has it easy. In his value system, he will adjust his values to accommodate current trends and preferences. The majority of the people will give him accolades, pats on the back and call him a wise good guy. His system of values and evaluating issues will be all wrong and will guide himself and others down an errant and deceptive trail. Why? Because he has left the benchmark of his value system. He just doesn't see that the reason for having a value system in the first place is so that when folks get off the edge of the road they can correct and return to the center before they catapult into the ditch. You see, a good value system is nothing to fool around with. If it was correct at the beginning, it is correct for all times. Isn't it funny how each generation thinks it is so much smarter than the generation of their parents? Smart aleck upstarts, they can't really know anything until they've spent the time in the schools and books as we have. Then they'll realize that they are on the road to smart but they or we will never really get there.

Guy one—is he happy and content with his system? Yes, he has a peace in his system and the implementation of it—you see, he doesn't need to get up every morning and check to see if his values are current and when controversy knocks at the door or a lifestyle decision has to be made there is mental debate about what his conditions will be based on. His values haven't changed, where he goes and how he continues and even the direction that he goes or even which trail he chooses to take will be simple because his system was good then, and it will be good now.

Guy two—well, I feel sorry for him. Heaven only knows where he is going to wind up. Because, just because his system is current, it isn't based on consistency. He may be miles down the trail and all of a sudden his value system changes and he will be totally lost from the straight and narrow, even in the ditch.
 
 

That's My Opinion.

“All truth, in the long run, is only common sense clarified.” Thomas Huxley.

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