OBEDIENCE TO THE UNENFORCEABLE

In sport, on the road, in business, in marriage, in your private moments, your integrity is based more on what can’t always be monitored, observed, judged, or refereed than what can be. Contrary to what one may think, “Western societies are not held together primarily by the overall enforcement of laws, which would be impractical, but most important by citizens who voluntarily obey the unenforceable because of their internal norms of correct behavior” (Dallin H. Oaks). Voluntary self-regulation among the majority is critical to a stable society and the institutions in it. I wonder if we stress this enough in our homes and schools today?

The value of understanding the principle of self-regulation has been noted by the wise among us for centuries.  I came upon the title to my comments today by reading a statement by Lord John Fletcher Moulton, the great English jurist who wrote that democracy will only flourish in a nation to “the extent of obedience to the unenforceable.”  Even the French concurred—Alexis de Tocqueville likewise observed this characteristic attitude of the early American nation.  As our nation gets closer to the brink I wonder how many people still subscribe to these fundamental norms guiding civil and personal behavior?

A well-educated Chinese visitor recently noted the following about America:

“In your past, most Americans attended a church or synagogue every week. These were institutions that people respected. At church, from their youngest years, Americans were taught to voluntarily obey the law; to respect other people’s property, and not steal it. Americans were taught never to lie. Americans followed these rules because they had come to believe that even if the police or court systems didn’t catch them when they broke a law, God would catch them and hold them accountable. Democracy works [in America] because most people most of the time voluntarily obey the laws.”  He went on to say, “democracy-enabling religions are those that support the sanctity of life, the equality of people, the importance of respecting others’ property, and of personal honesty and integrity” (Linkedin, 14 June 2016, “Religion is the Foundation of Democracy and Prosperity” by Clayton Christensen).

The best places to teach our children these principles and values are in the home, in our churches, and in our institutions such as in boy scouts and girl scouts, and yes, in the schools and in youth athletics.  These things are part of the life-long responsibilities of all adults—direct teaching and modeling.   Don’t leave it up to cartoon television shows and the morality of ‘friends’ on Facebook to be the teachers of those who most need direct teaching to establish responsible lives.