Duty

What does duty mean and what is our duty as human beings? According to wikitionary duty is doing what one is morally obligated to do. Morally obligated. To have morals, rules to live by. Obligated. To whom are we obligated? This to me these words are topical, dry, definitions. Is there not something deeper, more fundamental?

Often we here of duty to family, friends, and country and this is all well and good. Why do we do our duty to these? Is it because these are the people that help us? We are loyal to those who help us. Is their a type of duty which is done not because of obligations and loyalty to clan? What of the suffering of all of mankind? Can you turn a blind eye to the suffering of all? You do good to those you love, but what of everyone else? Do you see the wretched and turn away in disgust. Do you hate another fellow human being because he or she is a different religion, nationality, or race? Is it acceptable to kill them in the name of country? We must defend ourselves from aggression, but do we have the right to be aggressors even if our way of life is superior?

To me it would be better for you if you helped create a better world. Small things count big sometimes. Should we not help the unfortunate? Should we not teach the ignorant, the emotionally disturbed? Do we have the courage to do the hard thing, that caring attention, as the old saying goes, "give a man a fish and feed him once, teach a man to fish and feed him forever."

Can we as a species have the courage to help one another, worldwide, to inspire and uplift, to educate, to have compassion, and heal wounds? There is incredible hurt in the world. It has been a vicious cycle for millenia. One man hurts another, who becomes angry or depressed, and takes it out on another, and so on ad infinitum. When will the cycle be broken? If not we get what we deserve.

When no human being is willing to inflict suffering on another no matter the reason, and only then, will we live in peace together.