Some Moral Minna by Lenn Goodman

The Morally Right

In “Some Moral Minima” I believe Lenn Goodman is right when he says certain things are simply wrong. I agree with Goodman on the issues he discusses such as slavery, genocide, terrorism, murder, rape, polygamy, and incest. I agree with Goodman on these issues because there is never a good time to kill for the sake of killing, rape for the sake of sex, or take ones rights away for the sake of gaining respect or wealth. Goodman basically discusses that every person whether it be man, woman, or child has the rights to live and be free from any and all inhumane treatment. Goodman’s main understanding is not to be quick on judging things we don’t understand, but to judge those things that are not morally right. I believe that all people are equal and have the right to live their own life as do the violators should have no rights to commit these unruly acts of wrong. Who are we to judge anyone or why should others have the right to murder, rape, or rip the rights of people away from them? The bible states, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you” (Matthew, 7:12, Standard Version). I believe this is the best way to look at the situation on any of the issues that Goodman discusses. We should never judge anyone due to their sexual orientation, physical/mental handicapness, or any other feature in which they have no control over, such as the poor and the wealthy. Goodman discusses slavery as a act of wrong in the article and I really agree with his views on this issue. In the past some of our forefathers thought of slavery as a racially ethical right. Today in our society there are still some of the older generation that still look down upon the African American population simply because of the color of their skin. “Murder is destructive. But slavery keeps its victims alive while stripping her of agency, assigning it to others who do not share her projects, hopes, or interests, but subordinate her capabilities to their wants” (Goodman, L. ,2010, pg. 5). I believe slavery is one of the best issues that Goodman discusses because slavery rips the rights of a person’s life and soul from their body. Slavery is just like that of human trafficking, both of them rips a person’s rights and feelings of freedom away from them. “Human trafficking has grown since the 1990’s” (Goodman, 2010, pg.5). This was a shock to me because I did not think that this was a big issue as I have found it to be in today’s society. Goodman discusses human trafficking as those humans who are sold for sexual reasons, slavery, or other inhumane reasons. I remember a movie that shined some light on human trafficking that shown were girls as young as nine were being prostituted and trafficked for these sexual reasons. I could not imagine a nine year old being done so wrong at this young of an age. I believe it is wrong no matter what the age but as young as nine is so shocking. Human trafficking is illegal just as is murder, terrorism, and incest in many places but just as Goodman says if it is illegal then why is the problem growing? The government is not enforcing or trying to stop the laws against it so does this mean they are enabling these violators to get away with inhumane treatment against other humans. I believe with the older generation still being racially wrong with the acts of slavery, the government not cracking down on human trafficking, and other issues of inhumane treatment going on that people are receiving the wrong message. The younger generations are learning by the older generation’s mistakes of allowing all this wrong to go on. Unless we as adults start helping the younger generation understand that all people are created equal and that we all have the same divine rights, then these issues of wrong are only going to get worse through the years. We all bleed the same red blood, we all cry the same tears, and we all should have the same rights to ideas, hopes, dreams, and freedom to live our lives the way we want. I believe those who feel the need to commit these wrong and unruly acts of inhumane treatment against other humans have an insecurity problem that these acts make them feel more powerful and more inferior when they do commit these acts. Therefore, I agree that in some cultures their beliefs are certain to these wrongs but in the end we all as humans should have the rights to act, think, be free, and do as we all want as long as it does not violate the freedom of other human beings.

Lenn E. Goodman. (2010). Some moral minima. The Good Society 19(1), 87-94. Retrieved November 19, 2010, from Project MUSE database.