Howdy !

Throughout our whole lives, morals, life lessons and consequences have nipped at our heels.  It seems as though growing up there was always a lesson to be learned, even when you least expected it. Now that you're no longer eight years old and learning why hockey shouldn't be played in the house, you still find yourself getting more than you asked for out of everyday events.

Passed down by our parents from their parents, read aloud from children's books, taught in class rooms, reflected upon in the principals offices', discussed in workshops and meetings; these morals (values, lessons, meanings, messages, codes of ethic, whatever you want to call them) are part of our everyday being as we participate (sometimes unwillingly) in society. 

As humans, we have this idea of right and wrong.  Some grasp this concept more easily than others, and many find themselves in a constant battle for what is right.  In my mind, morals are basically the rules of wrong and right.  They persuade, enforce and teach us to consciously and unconsciously make the better choice, although they are sometimes unsuccessful...  However, when they are successful, our choices not only help ourselves, but everyone around us in our society.

Members of the Korowai Tribe (One of the only
photos where they are dressed, thank God)

These morals do vary by culture and living conditions.  Across the world, what may seem completely obscene and wrong to us, is but only good natured and right to them.  Cannibalism, just as a quick example, seems completely inhuman and horrific to our societal morals.  Yet, to the Korowai Tribe of New Guinea, this deed is derived from positive consequences.  To them, they are saving their kin from danger and suffering of demons and illness, so that they and those around them can live peacefully - all the while maintaining respect for their Gods and the values descended upon them by their beliefs.  So moralistically speaking, cannibalism is the right thing to do, don't you think?  For those of you saying no, I understand.  For us, who are privileged enough to have modern technology and medicine, cannibalism seems very wrong.  But for the Korowai people, they don't have the same options we do.  To them, they maintain their happiness and joie de vivre through the practice of culture and religion, be it cannibalism or shrunken skulls.  So for them, would cannibalism still be wrong?

Mark Twain, featuring his beautiful
moustache.

What I'm ultimately trying to express, is how easily the notion of what is wrong and right can be distorted.  Throughout this semester of blogging, I'll be here to exploit the contortion of morals.  I'll be here expressing my views on what is morally right or wrong about several controversial topics in society.

"The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to the other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creatures that cannot."
-Mark Twain, "What is man?"

So really, what are morals?  By what are they defined?  By whom are they defined?  Who are we as a society to decide what is right and wrong compared to another a complete opposing society.  More importantly, what do you think?



References:
http://knowledgenuts.com/2013/10/28/the-culture-that-still-practices-cannibalism/
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/sleeping-with-cannibals-128958913/?no-ist=