A few days ago I was browsing Facebook and checking out the (few) genuine opinions that are left in what is practically a “free thought ghost town” — almost entirely pictures of people’s face with their tongue out, advertisements for some Gang Mafia Wars Ville 3, or watered down repeated political nonsense.

I came across something that was disturbing to not only me but many people. A man was making racist comments about President Obama. He and others then went on to wish not only bad things upon him, but some even went as far as to wish death upon him. When confronted about their comments, the people then claimed that it is their “first amendment right” to say these things. But is it?

Is it a first amendment right to be able to degrade and bash someone? Sure. But is it the right thing to do? Absolutely not. The difference between “I can” and “I should,” is a line so thin, that often times one really has no idea whether it truly is the right thing to do. “Unwritten law” is a good way to describe exactly what I’m talking about; is it illegal to wear muddy shoes in someone else’s house? No, but is it the right thing to do?

This type of morality is a difficult thing to describe; different people have different morals. But, maybe, the perfect way to describe the unwritten laws is, “Do unto others as you would want done to you.”

Yes, it may sound cliché to use a saying that has been pounded into our heads since we first stepped foot into school, but the idea of it is what builds characters who have shaped the world; Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., etc.

“Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.”  – Martin Luther King Jr.

King spent his adult life marching for equality and spreading the idea of fair treatment of people to not be judged by the color of their skin, race and sex, but rather to judge based on character. That is a perfect example of fighting for unwritten laws to be taught to the youth in order to create a society that has morals.

The next time you want to put somebody down with an insult or not help out a person who needs help or whatever, stop and think; “Even though I can do this, should I?”