Truth Vs. Lie

Is it okay to lie, when the circumstances seem to call for it? No. It is never okay to lie. Lying is bad for your spiritual health. We are called to tell the truth, no matter what. If I lie, I usually get in more trouble for lying than I would have for whatever I lied for. For me, there is really no point in lying because I'll end up telling the truth any way. I guess I have what some would call a "conscience". I don't think of it that way though. I think of it as the Holy Spirit convicting me of something I did wrong. Not guilt, but the fact of knowing the difference between right and wrong, and knowing what choice I made. We have the choice to tell the truth or tell a lie. It is not "oh, I had to lie because..." we know the truth and we choose not to tell it, then took it a step further and convince that person the opposite, or make something up. Even when I know that the truth will get me into trouble or hurt someone's feelings, I have to tell it. It is hard but ultimately for the best. I would not want someone to spare my feelings with a lie or convince me of something other than the truth, so why should I do the same? It all circles back to the golden rule, treat people the way I would like to be treated.

Bullying.

Bullying is a serious, quite large problem in the United States. Sure, it gets plenty of press and there's plenty of organizations and charities but obviously that's not helping to solve the problem because they are so many kids still being bullied. I think bullying is now used as a political tactic for Disney channel-type stars to gain popularity or sympathy. I feel like some people use bullying for themselves and not to genuinely help others. On the other hand, my opinion on bullying itself is quite simple; you can control who you're intimidated by. That's right. If you let someone get inside your head, and tear you down then they have control. If you choose not to let their words have any effect on you, they will most likely leave you alone because they know they won't be able to harass you because their words have no effect. Once they get inside your mind they pretty can take you down mentally and emotionally. Bullying is usually an intimidation/mental/emotional thing. Bullies are just trying to find someone they think is weaker than them to pick on to pump their egos but if you show that you are stronger than them (mentally/emotionally) than they don't really get what they were looking for, right? It's take some training and getting used to but you can eventually strengthen yourself to get to that point. With that being said, sometimes it can be too late or someone is "helpless" this and physical abuse is where adults should come in and help. Some adults choose not to help for whatever reason and that's when you have to pull out big guns like lawyers and parents and police. Also, I don't believe in that "builds character" crap. Being harassed in any way shape or form can be traumatic especially for a child. In conclusion, I do not know how to solve this problem directly but these are my opinions.

Do they have the right?

Do people have the right to take things that don't belong to them? Of course not, that object could have caused that person a lot of hard work or time, or made that person happy or even had sentimental value and no one has the right to just take decide they want it and take it away. Its really a basic kindergarten teaching, if it doesn't belong to you, you have no business touching it. When people take things that don't belong to them, it's usually more of a power thing, than say a 'want' thing. Some people feel the need to feel above other people, a sense of authority, power and they see taking someone's belonging(s) as a way to prove that. Some people just want to have everything. Some people have some sort of pathological need to steal things. Is is never okay to take things that don't belong to you, but that doesn't mean these acts always have consequences. Some people get away with taking things with a position is government or just bet being sneaky! They do it because they choose people or situations they know won't be able to to stop them.