Civil Obedience

I've often been forced to ponder the meaning of civilization, whether or not I live in one, and whether not such a thing has ever actually existed, except in theory, or at best within certain frameworks of a larger society that otherwise frankly could not give a damn. Many studies have been done to determine whether or not people would obey simple rules of civility if they did not feel, at least at some level, compelled to do so: whether by a stern parent standing by, that policeman on the corner, the minister at church, a teacher at school, or a larger government backed by an army. Or even simply that someone is watching.

We do, in short, what we were taught, because we must, because it is the rule, or the law, or the right thing to do. But would we do them otherwise? Most of us would like to think we would. Yet in large parts of the world gleaming cities have been--are at this moment being--reduced to rubble by people who seem to have no problem performing the most uncivilized act there is: random murder.

Of course they always have a justification: usually one invoking god, which has got to be the greatest blasphemy ever, and yet one that has been invoked from time immemorial. What is it about human beings that makes them so certain that they alone have finally found Truth, and by God will invoke it upon all others upon pain of death? As is going on to this very day in large parts of our world, and has probably been going on since the beginning of 'civilization.'

Which leads me to the topic of crime, which, as a crime fiction author, must inevitably arise in one's thoughts, as well as one's works given that so much of it takes place on a daily basis throughout the world. Crime, of course, is an act of anti-civilization: of overt disobedience to the rules of law, decency, fairness, justice and honor. It can be as minor as not using a turn signal (one of my own prime grievances in daily life) to as monstrous as an act of mass murder. Each of which can be performed by persons who look little different from you or I. How ironic that virtually all of the greatest acts of mass murder in history were performed by well-organized groups under the rule of law--it was just a question of the ruler of the time committing those acts being in a position to make and enforce the laws.

To me true civilization begins and ends, both, with those small acts of civility or lack thereof: of returning a compliment; of taking your turn at a four way stop sign; of doing your share of the chores (or paying your share of the taxes--whoops, there it all goes); of speaking up when a bully strikes; of keeping your prices (or fees) within the means of your clients or customers (or tenants), and so on. If we cannot be civil, if we don't want to bother, then civilization ends: these days most likely at the point of a gun.

How ironic that the most uncivilized act of all short of overt criminal behavior, at least in these United States, is to walk around a populated area carrying a gun. What is your message there, exactly? To me it is blatantly clear: "I want no part of your civil society, and if you don't like it I will kill you."

Perhaps the saddest irony of all for a mystery writer who loves a civil society, is that were it not for such people stepping over the lines of civility into the criminal realm, I'd be out of work.