Law and Civilization

Law as we know it in the USA took thousands of years to develop. Those who care for a fascinating journey are invited to investigate the many sources of Legal History. The development of law parallels the progress of the civilized world.

Ancient Greece is credited with the first development of the type of higher-level thought that could only survive if a system of laws existed to protect the thinkers. The world was replete with barbarism and tribal groups that were a threat to this advanced notion of society.

Wars and disunity led to the end of Greece.  Rome arose as a comparable idea to replace it. The Roman Legal system was the first to attempt to organize laws into a cohesive body that could be quoted and looked to for advice on judgements.  After a far too short time, this great edifice of thought also fell prey to tribal savagery and wanton barbarism.

A thousand year period of Darkness followed. Violence and barbarity were the norm. Through it all, the studious monks of the Catholic church preserved the laws and ideals of Greece and Rome by laboriously copying these ancient manuscripts for ten centuries.  The Armies of Mohammed robbed, raped and pillaged their way across the Middle East, North Africa and well into Spain, destroying all in their path as they are doing today.  

The Renaissance brought the rule of law to the world once more. The great influence of the Church kept those who would dare to bring the barbarity of past ages back at bay. Though the following centuries saw far too many wars the Rule of Law was preserved.  

The last six months have brought the targeted killings, forced conversions, abductions, trafficking, slavery and sexual abuse that are considered normal in the Islamic world to the attention of all. Though they differ in name and objectives, ISIS, HAMAS, AL-QAEDA, BOKO HARAM and their allies are identical.  Their “Law” is in a medieval form of jurisprudece known as Sharia which holds that all Legal disputes had been decided by the 13th century so forces those who must live by it to obey.

The Tribal orgy of violence in Ferguson, MO is no different: though those involved profess a desire for “Justice” their real intent is to convict and imprison a valued officer of the Law for doing his job.  Their only laws, like the Terrorist they admire is that of murder and chaos.

History abounds with the proofs: without law, societies break down and chaos reigns.

When we allow this to continue we only encourage it and court disaster.