274. Fighting Crime - Daily Dose of Wisdom

If you tell a child, “Keep this rule because if you don’t you will be punished!” the child has two doubts in his mind: Maybe he won’t be caught, and if he is caught, maybe the punishment won’t outweigh the crime.

The child has to know that there is an eye that sees, an ear that hears --that there is a Higher Unseen Being to which he is answerable. This is the only way to reduce crime in America.

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Beyond Humanism

The Sterile Classroom

Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. To order Rabbi Freeman’s book, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, click here.

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March 4, 2008

Reducing Crime

I agree with Mayim, and also feel that people can learn that giving for its own sake actually feels better than getting. That being kind and loving to people feels better than competing with them. That the only competition that feels good is competing with yourself and doing your best to become someone you like better than the person you were yesterday. Self respect and honorable behavior can only lead to respect for others, and honorable behavior precludes crime. I truly believe that these basic ideas can and must be taught in all school systems from the very start and be a new course in "Life" that is framed as secular in order to be included in course curriculum throughout a child's full educational process. We teach English every year, changing appropriately as the child grows.. Isn't a course in "Living Life For Your Benefit And Everyone's Benefit" at least as important? I do believe that morals end ethics should be taught within this sort of secular frame in order for it to be included with the emphasis on how it actually serves the individual. in order for it to be adopted by the individual. I believe this will eliminate the individual's involvement in criminal behavior to the extent that these concepts are effectively taught and then expressed in everyday living. In the meantime, we can each, individually, be the best we can be for all reasons, and, therefore, express this and become examples.

Yochana Bas Chana
New York, NY

March 3, 2008

Reducing Crime

Some people only behave when threatened but others intuitively want 2 do good & u don't need 2 threaten them because they automatically do good because they possess & act upon innate compassion & empathy. All that u need 2 do 4 kids who automatically do good without being threatened because they possess & act on innate compassion is teach them how 2 overcome desires with meditation (instead of creating mindset of ruthless competition for material objects with violence competitive sports & philosophies) & read moral-character building texts instead of demoralizing ones about people who torture each other for money / power. Reduce crime by teaching moral character building books & meditation 2 overcome desires instead of titillating desires with demoralizing books, TV, radio, newspaper ads, etc ...

Mayim