|
|
|
|
| Re: Trans & Human rights in Europe [message #79314 is a reply to message #78805 ] |
Sun, 13 December 2009 02:19   |
 Capucine 
Messages: 210
Registered: October 2007 |
Senior Member |
|
|
I read through these supplications to the bureaucrats in Brussele. I agree that these protections are needed, but I do not see them as any real lasting solution. Laws can easily be changed, regulations even more easily.
I wrote out for my own mental clarification the short essay that follows. This attempts to indicate the real area of change that we need.
Morality and the Law
"Politics main task in any society is to describe the practical implications of the agreed system of morality that the community practices. In civilized societies allowance is made for those who have views which do not conform to the majority standards. This is achieved by a recognition of Individual Rights, which take precedence over the majority view to the extent that it does diminish the majority's rights.
"To recognize that law is secondary to morality automatically reduces the law to a subordinate status. The members of a community may accept out of convenience laws, which do not reflect their moral views, but they will not feel guilty if they fail to apply them in their spirit. They will do just enough not to get into trouble.
"The standard system of morality in vigor in the West is that of Altruism. This is the demand that one's existence is justified by one's service to others, and that one's primary virtue must be self-sacrifice. This morality is derived from Christianity and the Kantian philosophers, who have dominated thought since the nineteenth century.
"For persons suffering from GID this morality is utterly devastating. If any action having moral worth must not in any way be motivated by personal inclination or gain, our transitions are condemned as immoral. We all know that only we can in all truth gain from our action. We are in fact going against a statement I found in Schopenhauer "A man must not desire any reward for his works, whether it be direct or indirect, near or remote, even if what he desires is to work out his own perfection - because morality excludes self-interest in the widest sense of the term..... The absence of all egoistic motivation is, therefore, the criterion of an action of moral worth,"
"This is typical of the general understanding of what morality is. Even if people cannot achieve such standards of behavior, or probably even try too hard to do so, this is the standard to which they will hold the actions of themselves and others to determine the degree of morality present. Defending any egoistic action brings skepticism in one's audience, if not condemnation. Only altruism is seen as an acceptable moral behavioral pattern.
"Transition is a totally personal matter. It benefits no one other than the transitioner. Given the moral standards in existence, no matter how favorable the laws may be written in our favor, the moral condemnation will be there even where tolerance or acceptance is also present. Tolerance does not obliterate the moral judgment of any action. It merely suspends practical condemnation for the time being.
"To truly change our situation it is the moral view that needs to be addressed, but this is the hardest revolution to achieve. It takes generations to counter philosophical theories from which morality is derived. There are powerful philosophical interests supporting altruism, while those in favor of Individual Rights are practically non existent in our present Western society.
"To seek our salvation through the law is a band aid, not a real solution for recognition and equality. We need to support individualism as superior to collectivism if we are to gain a long term benefit and secure our place in society. Being merely another interest group, and a moral outcast at that, will not bring us the dignity that we seek."
Capucine
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
