From: A lecture given by Speaker Gerald A. Polley at the Unitarian-Universalist
Church, Ellsworth, ME,
March 21, 1993
PROTECTING THE INNOCENT
One of the fundamental teachings of Personal Responsibility is that we
cannot enrich ourselves at the expense of others. That we cannot enforce
our opinions and our desires on others. Might does not make right. The reverse
is true. Might often makes terrible wrong.
Just as an individual can destroy themselves by abusing others, so can
nations. No nation has the right to seize another peoples' territory because
they have superior weapons. No nation has a right to force its political,
economic, or, religious system on another nation by the force of arms.
Every nation is responsible to protect the life and liberty of its neighbors.
There are certain situations in which a nation or a group of nations can
interfere in the affairs of others.
If a nation falls into chaos, if its government no longer exists, and
its people are suffering the nations around it can go in, restore order,
and keep the peace until the people of that nation are able to reestablish
their own order.
If a country is taken over by a cruel dictator and its people are being
oppressed, its neighbors can go in, remove that dictator, and reestablish
a legitimate government.
But NO nation has the right to STAY to keep these countries under its
control after the people of that country have been able to establish their
own government, and are again capable of running their own affairs.
Too many times in history Empires have overrun the world; the Romans,
the Mongols, the British...all have tried by force of arms to force their
way on others. All have failed, and, crumbled, because they were violating
a basic principle of Infinite Law. Each has perished, and their people
suffered untold horrors in the material and in the Spiritual Realm because
they believed in the right of might.
Do not believe in this principle. Understand that it is the duty of the
strong not to oppress the helpless; not to downtrodden the innocent, but
to protect them, to see that each people have the right to live as they
want to live, as long as they do no harm to others.
This is the way a nation should be governed, a people should live. For
if they do not, they WILL perish.