http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=63
What does it mean to be civil? Does that simply mean that we should act nice towards one another? Is letting a car cut in front of you count as your civic duty or "civil act of the day?" Take a moment and read the quotes from the link provided. Do you perceive the Founding Fathers as a group of religious nuts? Or were they enlightened to a degree that you nor will never understand? I believe the answer to be neither.
Regardless of your views on religion, morals, civility, and government, the concept of each are so ingrained with each other to a point of near dependence. But wait? Was government suppose to be on that list? Absolutely.
So many people have claimed that government is not here to legislate morals. But I believe many have missed the boat on this debate. When man began to see their own existence inherit with a set of unalienable rights, independent of social class, man began fighting back against forces that would usurp those rights. The founding of our USofA was reared from this train of thought. What were those rights? Those rights could be describe as the right to be unadulterated. These rights have often been described as negative rights. They are negative because they require no action on other's part to provide the rights. Let's consider the Bill of Rights and the US Constitution. The right to reproach the government, the right to free practicing of religion, the right to bear arms, the right to personal security, and the right to enjoy personal property are all concepts enumerated in our Declaration and Constitution.
However, the protection of these rights calls on two entities; morals and government. Government is required to ensure no person or persons restrict the rights of a singular. Hence, we have laws, codes, and a justice system in place to protect and bring justice to those whose rights have been violated. Therefore, government's very essence is as a moral institution designed to protect our moral rights. The second entity required is a set of morals. Again, I refer to the link provided. If morals brought forth the idea of rights, then without morals, do we still have rights? I surmise we are to dedicate our lives to exercising our rights and living to a high moral standard. For as morals decline in influence, then government is forced to maintain the balance for the cause of civility.
I declare that we cannot maintain civility through government alone.
From morals is birthed our rights and through morals can we ensure civility.
