SELF-JUSTIFICATION
Society has protected and nurtured me, and enabled me to develop my human potential. Thus, I owe a debt of honour to society. For most, having children is sufficient, though that is merely to replace oneself. Bringing those offspring up to be decent people and responsible citizens is a much harder but more worthwhile task.
But for a single person such as myself, repaying my debt to society, justifying my existence, is a much more difficult and complex matter and those selfish souls who do not concern themselves with such things are merely a waste of space, a drain on society. We all take in this world, and we should be prepared to give in at least equal measure.
Many would say that their contribution to society is by working most of their lives, but that is erroneous. We supply our labour in exchange for monetary reward. To barter, to exchange, is not to give, so it is merely a neutral state of affairs. Others may claim that by paying their taxes they are contributing to society. Wrong. In return for paying tax, we receive roughly equal benefit; although I pay for the education of other people’s children, I in turn was educated. The armed forces protect me, as do the police and fire brigade, and medical services keep me relatively healthy, and I don’t starve if I am unemployed or unfit for a period.
Giving money to charity, buying a ‘Big Issue’ once in a while is good and positive move, but is very often a rich man’s way to ease his conscience. Giving surplus cash is effortless, taking neither time or sacrifice, and it is a recorded fact that the richer one is, the less proportionately one gives to charity.
To make a significant and worthwhile contribution to society, one must give of oneself, to the point where it hurts a little, not only money, but your precious time and more than a little emotion, the things of real value.
As Kennedy almost said,
Ask not what society can do for you, ask rather what you can do for society.
