A NECESSARY SYSTEM

    I remember when I was a child, I learned very quickly each day that it was important to wash my hands and face and brush my teeth. When I ate breakfast, lunch and dinner, I learned to use the correct utensils.  I never considered those activities as rules. I learned to say please and thank you or excuse me as the appropriate occasion arose. When I went to school, the teacher made it clear there was to be no talking in the classroom unless you raised your hand and got permission. Somehow, as time went on, I found that I wasn’t feeling that these behaviors were laws. But, eventually I came to realize that there are laws everyone is obligated to obey.

 

    So, I ask myself what does the word law mean?   Law is commonly understood as a system of rules that are created and enforced through social or governmental institutions to control conduct.  Words for “law” generally mean etymologically “what is right”.  Again, etymologically, “something straight,” “upright”, “true”, “legally right”, “put in place”, or proper.  A point to be made is that a law is set in place not to be excused or ignored.  Laws exist for good reason in that they can help to protect people from horrible acts such as murder or rape. In a milder sense, laws can help humans protect them from others who can steal or cheat.

    The history of law is closely related to the changes in civilizations.  Ancient Egyptian law as far back as 3000 BC was characterized by tradition, rhetorical speech and social equality.  In the 22^nd century BC, the Sumerian ruler Ur-Nammu had formulated a first law code.  Around 1760 BC, King Hammurabi developed Babylonian law that he codified and inscribed it in stone.  The Old Testament dated back to 1270 BC took the form of moral imperatives as recommendations for a good society.  The small Greek city- state ancient Athens, about the 8^th century BC was the first society to be based on the broad inclusion of its citizenry.  However, Athens had no legal science or single word for “law”.  Rather it relied on the three-way distinction between divine law, human decree, and custom.  However, Ancient Greek Law contained major constitutional innovations in the development of democracy.  Roman law was influenced by Greek philosophy and developed more detailed adaptations to cope with the changing social conditions by establishing new codifications of the law.  During the Middle Ages Roman law was rediscovered around the 11^th century when medieval legal scholars began to research Roman codes and adapt their concepts to canon law, giving birth to the seeds which medieval England, royal courts developed as common law.

    It seems that without law and order civilizations would crumble. Yet, laws (rules or regulations) can sometimes smother or restrain freedom if implemented without fair deliberations. Every person has a responsibility to acknowledge and respect law and order. We live in a world today that offers tremendous advances in technology, science and medicine.   Confirming, accepting and obeying laws gives us an opportunity to enjoy these benefits.