Morality In The Modern World: Mactoism

Deciding on your own moral "code" to live by can be a difficult task. It helps to read the philosophies of those before us, however I believe it more desirable to form ethics of our own making in order to facilitate challenges of the modern world. I must not take credit for the influences of Existentialism and Stoicism.

I believe there are principles in which we must abide by to live a "good" life. The word "Macto" in Latin means to fight, to magnify, glorify, honour, slay. As tradition goes, most factions of ethics have a particular name. I have decided Mactoism fits the bill for my particular beliefs.

Equality
The most important human "law" must be fairness for all. To treat others as you would have them treat you. In order to maintain dignity and live a "good" life we must ensure all others have as many opportunities as ourselves. This effectively sets "the class system" as void. The challenge is to set others as your priority, above yourself and your own needs, even your very life must be put to the side if the situation calls for it. Each individual's life is worth as much as the next, despite wealth, quality of life, disability, group associated with or family status. No one is better than another. In the end we are all just piles of bones in the ground and we should take it upon ourselves to rise above petty childishness that causes terrible evil to be committed. To lead a "good" life, in situations that require us to save other people, we are obligated to put them first even if we should lose our lives in the process. Equality also includes other species and the environment that deserve respect. No one gets left behind.

Bravery
By following the human "laws", we must first be concrete in our beliefs and stay true to them unless we are called to a greater need that trumps our laws. If so, it is our responsibility to change our views accordingly after thinking deeply about what the changes require us to do. Despite all adversity, we must maintain our "self" by in-keeping with what we believe to be "good" and "righteous" and avoiding what we deem to be "evil", "unproductive" and "unnecessarily harsh". In order to completely carry out true equality, we require extreme courage to put other people selflessly before ourselves, especially if the process endangers our very lives. However, this remains a choice and if not chosen freely by the individual, the act becomes void and the "good" done is rendered nonexistent. This is also the case should the individual seek reward, profit or glory for their "good" act. The latter would be a worse damage on society and would bring great shame upon the individual that desired the idolisation. Living with courage and bravery and conviction leads to selfless love of others and that itself is "good".

Individual Development
As an intellectual species, we must maintain a certain "standard" of thought. We must aspire to gain further knowledge, deep wisdom and curiosity for the world around us to develop as "good" well-balanced persons. Possessing an impartial, unbiased mind throughout our lifetime enables us to fully induce equality and make quick yet right decisions. As humans, we are given a special ability to think, question and investigate with our powerful brains and to disregard this duty to ourselves and society would be deemed "unproductive". We are effectively protectors of our own progress and it is important to nourish our skills. We should strive to change the world around us for the better.

Endurance
With life comes both pain and joy. It is extremely important to accept the inevitability of one's death and to conquer the fear of such an end when it is impossible to stop. One should not be frightened by the prospect and in fact welcome it at the time it happens as the mind and essence is at peace. However, we must not squander our talents by indulging in excessive means such as food, drugs, alcohol and one must not become "reckless" or "foolish". These are deemed shameful and should be avoided at all times. Bravery must be contained in an appropriate fashion to ensure we follow the right path for the circumstances. Pain should not be feared but embraced as a typical symptom of life or payment for the ability to be alive. Pain and fulfilment are illusions of life: one does not exist without the other and death is our rest from fighting and enduring. However, one should not seek out pain deliberately to spite ourselves or others as this is unhealthy and damaging to our very unique essence. All those that do so should be treated sensitively but should not be shamed. To love our enemies, those that oppose us and those we do not know is the endurance of pain and difficulties of life and is perhaps the most admirable strength within an individual.

Honesty and Authenticity
To live as a "good and righteous" individual, we must be true to our inner essence. This echoes the principle of bravery in stablising one's beliefs and sticking to them unless a higher law demands evaluation of them. Living an authentic life, we must not relabel valuable things such as love, sex, family, friendship and having children as merely trivial. To stay honest to oneself and the rest of society, we must strive to reach our full potential and be our "full selves" or our true essence. Honesty in all acts must remain a priority and lies should be avoided if possible. This maintains us as "good" well-balanced people that will benefit society and the world by working hard to the best of our abilities.

The Jolly Old Tommy Robinson and His Band of Not-So-Merry Followers

Perhaps it's been too long that I have not posted. However several topics have come to my attention that I was compelled to bring up. The first on my kill list was most definitely Tommy Robinson, founder of the English Defense League. Most assuredly, will it go on my list of badly abbreviated groups with un-flowing initials.

Now you'd be forgiven for thinking this man shares a similar name to the lovely Tony Robinson of Blackadder and the voice for many intriguing historical documentaries. Upon watching this morning's Sunday Morning Live, I was faced with the twisted slime-ball that is the Tommy Robinson of the English Defense League. Deceivingly, he strikes one as the typical football-mad loud-voiced English gentleman but watch and listen a little longer and you will be slapped in the face with extremist Anti-Everything views that regurgitate in a putrid green slime from his over-sized gob. Too harsh? On the contrary, as this man, despite his protests and badly-deflecting arguments, is just another echo of the likes of the BNP and UKIP and you could even go as far as comparing EDL to the same species as the brown shirts of the 1930's. A bigot is he, that believes that all Muslims, yes, ALL are to blame for the minuscule populace that dabble knee-deep in extremist codswallop. Perhaps a little hypocrisy is flowing through this dim-wit's half brain because I think the statement that is very appropriate at this moment, and takes us all back to our school days, is the wondrously-useful "It takes one to know one!"

I have become increasingly concerned with the British media's portrayal (We shall come to the issue of Media Regulation in another post soon) of ALL Muslims as a people to be fearful and suspicious of. Again, the depiction is reminiscent of the disgusting Nazi cartoons that showed Jews as rats to be stamped out. As a young person with many friends of different religions, nationalities, sexualities and beliefs, I find is repulsive that this stereotype is allowed to live and breathe. To quote a fantastically-insane Royal, "Off with their heads!" Religion and State have no place being entangled and we do not wish a repeat of the Theocracy of the Puritans in America. All religions, no matter how strange they seem, everyone on British soil has the right to a freedom to practice their belief system of choice. However, extremists sadly take this as an invitation to live without being attacked yet pick and choose the laws that they themselves wish to follow. Islam is a religion that teaches peace. As a wandering atheist, I would say that all religions have their flaws, all religions have those that misinterpret messages, all religions have extremists. Also we must not forget the majority of religious scriptures were composed in ages where women had next to no rights, homosexuality was regarded a disease and the disabled were shunned from society. So with a pinch of salt, we must put on our 21st-Century spectacles when we examine any teachings. It is wrong to punish a collective for the mistakes and sins of an individual or band of individuals.

Maybe a little example is in order. Take a serial killer. Imagine for forty years, they got away with hundreds of crimes, tallying up a high rate of victims. But they maintain the pretense of an ordinary man or woman, married, with children. Ask yourselves now, would it be right for those children to be constantly punished, bullied and even put on trial for their father or mother's crimes? No, of course not! Then why should all Muslims be held accountable for the actions of a minority of extremists? The answer does not change.

Not shockingly, when attempted to be spoken to, when others opposing Mr Robinson's views wish to discuss in an adult manner, Tommy enjoys squealing at the top of his lungs like a pig ready for slaughter. And may I say, the noise of the pig is certainly cuter. Dear old EDL like to claim that their group is not for Nazis and the like and is integrating with homosexuals, Sikhs and the working class. Ha! I scoff at your vile lies, Tommy! Someones been a naughty boy. And not in the cool sense.
Of course, many in Britain would propose that Tommy does sew the seeds of some rational ideas and opinions but merely builds on them in an aggressive manner. Perhaps there could be flecks of truth dwelling at the bottom of the pond but you must fish them out carefully to avoid being sucked into Mr Robinson's games. Yes, extremism must be taken care of, yet more importantly I think the bullying of others, those of a different religion or nationality or group, should be a priority. Why is it on a plane, the Muslim gentleman with a beard is given daggers but yet the violent verbally-abusive parent screaming at their child is not and the rowdy students chanting in a pre-drunk squawking enough to make migraines infectious throughout the cabin, are completely respected? Individuals are accountable for their own actions. Do not fall into the trap EDL have covered up with leaves.

Now to the English Defense League, I send my hopes for the best, the best being the dying out of their vomit-inducing beliefs that pollute the air of our beautiful island. Dear old Tommy Robinson, for you my ignorant little racist, I ask that you return from whence you came, this being whatever dark realm you slithered out of when the rancid aroma of bigotry swept up your reptilian nostrils. Good day to you Sir.

Viva La Multiculturalism!