Privacy

In violating the privacy of others,
We put our own petty interest,
Above their entitlement to privacy,
And by so doing, we devalue both them and ourselves.
So, without good cause,
Neither intrude nor impose,
Ever respecting the privacy,
Of others thought, choice, life,
And of belief.
No matter if a person is famous,
They too have a right to a reasonable privacy.
After all, the public interest is not always the same as the publics’ interest.
True for you and I,
This principle also applies to governments and media too,
And they should respect the right to privacy,
Save only in the direst of necessity,
And breach it only with the utmost care,
Conscious of the harm that might result from that breach.

Belief

What others believe does not matter,
How others worship does not matter,
And neither does what you claim to believe.
The only thing that matters is what you do.
If you believe and worship faithfully and sincerely,
According to whatever holy scripture you subscribe to,
And yet willfully cause harm to others,
Then, respectfully, you may have missed the point.

If you believe something,
Ask why you believe it,
And why others do not.
As honestly as you are able,
Question it, test it,
And, above all,
Have the humility to admit that you may be wrong,
In your belief, or your interpretation of what it means.

A belief left unchallenged by one who holds it,
And simply accepted as truth,
Is weak and without substance.

Respect the beliefs of others,
As you would have your own respected.
Further, do not try to push your beliefs on others,
For to do so infringes on their right to privacy of thought and belief,
As well as your own,
Rather let your actions speak quietly to your beliefs.