School Block
Sam Aurelius Milam III
Traditionally,
it was a well accepted principle that there isn't any obligation under
duress. In the USA today, however, that principle has been largely
forgotten. Almost everything that we do is done under duress, yet
we're still expected to respect the associated "obligations". The
"public schools" are a good example. Most young people, both children
and adolescents, are forced to go to the those schools.1
Then, they're expected to attend the required classes, learn the mandated
material, obey the dress codes, follow the established schedule, and so
forth. That just isn't acceptable. If force or coercion is
used to compel attendance, then the attendance is under duress. In
that case, the students don't have any obligation to cooperate, to learn,
or to do anything else. All they have to do is "serve their time"
and then leave. If we want them to have obligations while they're
in the schools, then attendance cannot be mandatory. If they (or
their parents, of course) have a choice in the matter and the students
attend anyway, then the obligations accrue legitimately as a part of the
deal. If the obligations turn out to be unacceptable, then there's
always the option of not attending a school at all. What we're doing
now doesn't teach the students about choice. It teaches them about
submission to authority. Maybe that's why we, as adults, just keep
submitting to the government's unreasonable demands. We learned submission
to authority in the "public schools".![10x5 Page Background GIF Image](../../Images/10x5_Page_Background.gif)
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^
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I'm not objecting to parents sending
their youngsters to school. I'm objecting to governmental requirements
which cause attendance at the schools to be mandatory, without regard for
the wishes of the parents. |
Justice
As Retold by Sam Aurelius Milam III
I don't recall where I heard this story, but it bears
repeating. I extend my thanks to the original author.
A
member of the U.S. Senate died unexpectedly and arrived at the Pearly Gates.
St. Peter was nonplused. "I'm sorry," he said, "but we weren't expecting
you until tomorrow. Your cloud isn't ready. However, I can
temporarily find a place for you Down Below and have your cloud ready
by tomorrow."
So,
they zipped down the Celestial Elevator and were met at the door by the
Devil, who was a dapper fellow in a tuxedo. He escorted the Senator
around the Grounds of Hell and she was greatly impressed. There were
lovely parks and broad peaceful meadows. There were picturesque woodlands,
little cottages, and in the distance, vast and mighty mountains.
The blue sky was dotted with pretty little clouds and every breeze carried
a whiff of lilac, or roses, or some other lovely scent. The senator
spent the night in one of the cottages and, the next day, she returned
to Heaven. She spent the day sitting on her pink cloud. She
didn't have anything to eat or drink. There wasn't anything to do.
Eventually, she called for St. Peter and said, "You know, Pete, I never
thought I'd hear myself saying this, but I think I'd rather be in Hell."
So
down the Celestial Elevator she went. When she arrived, she beheld
a vast, burning plain filled with howling barefoot people, plucking red-hot
chunks of brimstone with their bare hands, and dropping them into burning
bags. When the bags were filled, hideous demons dumped them and forced
the screaming people to start over again. Any who refused were sent
to an even worse place. The Senator demanded to see the Devil.
When he appeared, he was tall, covered in stinking flames, and armed with
a pitchfork. "This isn't what I expected!" wailed the Senator.
"This isn't what you showed me yesterday!" "Yesterday," said the
Devil," we were campaigning. Today, you voted for us."![10x5 Page Background GIF Image](../../Images/10x5_Page_Background.gif)
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frontiersman@ida.net |
Frontiersman,
1510 North 22nd Drive, Show Low, Arizona 85901
Also see Pharos at http://www.ida.net/users/pharos/ |
May 2004
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