I couldn't help noticing that I was the only one:

* at the busy intersection to lend a hand

* on that crowded bus to stepped in the way, while all others were stepping quickly away from the falling person

* on crowded Buckeye Lake (a fair-sized spread of water, only about 6 to 8 feet deep in most places) in mid-summer (with my brother), to assist in the capsized boat

It's just the morals-thing that caught my eye, Tom.

I mean, how many people in this world really need Right vs. Wrong defined, perhaps even printed out for daily review? The Golden Rule that Mary Anne brings up is a very easy one for us to remember, or, to make it religious, "We are all our brothers' keepers."

...So, what happened?

The line dividing right from wrong, left from right, light from dark, has never been sharply defined -- but were all the people in the rush hour traffic hardboiled conservatives, or were they dyed-in-the-wool liberals? What about those on the bus? And the lake?

Maybe it's just me battling all the obvious immorality of the state of Ohio?

But that’s judging against single instances. Truth be told:

* I don’t know how many other cars ran out of gas in intersections across the state

* I don’t live on the COTA buses

* I don’t live at Buckeye Lake

So, it’s probably not Me vs. The World.

But, dang it, this is where I grew up -- born and raised -- so this is where my moral values must have been formed, and this is where I must judge them.

But a lot of them were born and raised here too.

Location, therefore, is not the answer. The answer is -- people. They continually forget the Golden Rule, that oh-so-simple guide that keeps us all human. The helping-hand, which is as international as walking and breathing.

Well, perhaps I missed Mary Anne's point about morality, maybe not, but I really don't think labels like conservative or liberal fit this particular cast. If someone was injured, I’m sure there would be a flurry of both conservatives and liberals alike wanting to give assistance -- or so I would dearly hope. ...Then comes that Freddie Prinze syndrome -- “I’s no’ my yob, mane.”

If I try to help someone and fail, will I be liable? I mean, I’m not licensed to save lives. It might be safer to just walk away and let these people die...

Then again, maybe I'm just a nice agnostic...
;^)

Dan
--ps--
Every time I type out the word 'agnostic', I can hear Carroll O'Connor growling, "Meat-head!" in the background.