Guidelines

 I have been saying God only cares about Human Life.  But when it comes to living with others here on this earth we all need guidelines.  Yes, Human Life matters to God.  But people have to live with people.  The Harambi code were the first recorded laws in history about guidelines in terms of how people were to live with each other.  

It was this code that is among the first of laws and ethics.  All laws in the history of the world were established so that society could have order and structure.  IF Human Life was all that mattered to people there would still be societal chaos.  Laws give structure to society.  They govern how we live with each other.  God’s One Law is God’s Law.  

But human laws give us structure as either one society or many.  And over time laws become so complex that teams of lawyers have to figure out how to manipulate judges by argument.  We have established a prison system for those who break laws.  We have classified laws as either civil judgements or federal state and local governments.  

So, lawyers study laws and learn about ethics and the law as they pertain to society.  Hardly any longer can a lawyer be a self- trained practitioner of laws.  Our laws have become so complex that we need structure for those who practice law.  It is said that a person who acts as their own lawyer is a fool.  Every person charged almost always must have a lawyer.  

Our system of laws govern a unified society based on laws.  Only a well-trained lawyer can possibly know how to sway both judges and juries.  Sometimes the jury is more about public persuasion as it is about judges and juries.  What people think in general can be a persuasive argument.  Some get judged by the press.  This is where public opinions can matter.  

I follow college football closely.  It is the only sport I really care about.  Right now there is a case where a college football player placed bets on his own team for four years.  He went to another team and was forgiven by a judge.  He has one year of eligibility left and he went to a new team that is paying him five million dollars to be a quarterback for a year.  Even though the judge allowed him to play other teams and conferences are deciding whether they would play against that team.  Many feel that betting on a team for which you play is a cardinal sin.  But the law says he can play even though he broke the rules.  

It’s too complicated to explain here but the NCAA rule book says no betting by any player.  He broke the rules but a judge says he can still play and be paid.  Is this right?  Most everyone thinks not but his new school says it’s okay because a judge says so.  He broke rules but a judge says it’s okay.  Lawsuits are threatened by the school everyone wants to boycott playing.  A lot of money is involved.  Laws govern money.  This is all being sorted out between conferences and that school.  Many feel the judge is wrong, but now the law says it’s okay.  Where does this leave us?  There are rules and there are laws.  He broke the rules but not the laws.  Do rules matter any longer?  This is the question college football is asking.

I sit here and smoke my pipe and I’m letting the world go by.  This world is often too complicated for my small mind to grasp.  I smoke a pipe to alleviate the stress many questions cause me.  I relax with my pipe and take time to ponder the many questions about life and living.  My pipe today is my Nording Number 3 pipe and my tobacco this morning is my Autumn Evening by Cornell and Diehl.  My coffee is Lazzara .  Thank you for your time and Peace and Love to each one of you.  

Papa Chasteen