People are upset about the Casey Anthony verdict. They’re upset on Facebook, Twitter, and the news. There are petitions to leave on porch lights in a grief vigil. TV’s Jay Leno tried to joke about it on his show and totally bombed.
They all think this woman got by with murder.
And likely, she did. She’s been caught lying. She’s exhibited less-than-admirable behavior. She clearly did not make anyone’s “Mother of the Year” list. It really looks like this woman simply got rid of her inconvenient child.
And that makes me feel upset, too.
But the really interesting thing is…why? Why am I upset? Why is everyone upset?
Actually, that’s not a rhetorical question. I very firmly believe there is an answer. It’s because – like it or not – we all have an inherent sense of right and wrong. People may want to get rid of an inconvenient concept like Moral Law, but alas, we can’t escape it.
Human beings have a sense of how things ought to be. We can all identify when things are “not fair” or hurtful. We all dislike selfish behavior (mostly in others). And we cannot seem to escape the sense of outrage over things like betrayal or cowardice. Or murder.
As a matter of fact, how else could we have tort or criminal law if it weren’t for an undergirding moral law? How would we decide something was wrong or illegal or criminal?
For example, stealing is wrong. How do we know that? How do we know rape is wrong? What about fraud or defamation? Or murder?
There is a moral code in all of us that recognizes offence against another as wrong. The problem, you see, is another universal piece of inherent coding: our desire to excuse ourselves from the first one.
There’s always a reason when we are less than “good.” But let’s face it, the world’s a better place when we at least try to heed that Moral Law. Without it, there’s only chaos. (You’ve read “Lord of the Flies” – right?)
We know when someone takes our seat or cuts in line or cheats at cards that they’re doing wrong! We know it from the way our breath quickens and our faces flush and our hearts pound.
And we know when someone has gotten away with the cruel disposal of a precious little two-year-old girl.
We know it from the way our hearts ache.
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They all think this woman got by with murder.
And likely, she did. She’s been caught lying. She’s exhibited less-than-admirable behavior. She clearly did not make anyone’s “Mother of the Year” list. It really looks like this woman simply got rid of her inconvenient child.
And that makes me feel upset, too.
But the really interesting thing is…why? Why am I upset? Why is everyone upset?
Actually, that’s not a rhetorical question. I very firmly believe there is an answer. It’s because – like it or not – we all have an inherent sense of right and wrong. People may want to get rid of an inconvenient concept like Moral Law, but alas, we can’t escape it.
Human beings have a sense of how things ought to be. We can all identify when things are “not fair” or hurtful. We all dislike selfish behavior (mostly in others). And we cannot seem to escape the sense of outrage over things like betrayal or cowardice. Or murder.
As a matter of fact, how else could we have tort or criminal law if it weren’t for an undergirding moral law? How would we decide something was wrong or illegal or criminal?
For example, stealing is wrong. How do we know that? How do we know rape is wrong? What about fraud or defamation? Or murder?
There is a moral code in all of us that recognizes offence against another as wrong. The problem, you see, is another universal piece of inherent coding: our desire to excuse ourselves from the first one.
There’s always a reason when we are less than “good.” But let’s face it, the world’s a better place when we at least try to heed that Moral Law. Without it, there’s only chaos. (You’ve read “Lord of the Flies” – right?)
We know when someone takes our seat or cuts in line or cheats at cards that they’re doing wrong! We know it from the way our breath quickens and our faces flush and our hearts pound.
And we know when someone has gotten away with the cruel disposal of a precious little two-year-old girl.
We know it from the way our hearts ache.
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Very well said Lynnell!
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