The Freeman 1972 - The Ludwig von Mises Institute

1972 CAUSE AND EFFECT 549Each Experiences the Consequencesof His ActionsCause and effect operate in theuniverse - what does that actuallynlean? It means that everythingthat goes wrong in my life is myown fault. It means that everycomplaint I have made againstothers is my fault. Accepting sucha heavy burden of faults is not asterrible as it seems. It is reallybeneficial. If the faults were allcaused by other people, my safetyand protection would be out of mycontrol. Since the faults are mine,I have the wonderful opportunityof practicing every virtue I canthink of to increase my self-improvement."And who is he thatwill harm·you, if ye be .followersof that which is good?" (I Peter3:13)The men and women who pursuethe ideas of freedom enthusiasticallyare often hampered andfrustrated by all sorts of socialisticcontrols. Under such conditionsit is easy to develop an intensehatred toward socialists inorder to "get even" with them.However, hatred is a harmful indulgencebecause it destroys selfimprovement.Since freedom andself-improvement go hand in hand,freeing ourselves of hatred increasesour freedom' - we are nottied to our enemies.Here is my homemade recipe forgetting rid of hatred: Wheneversomeone harms us in some wayand we are incapable of punishingthe offender, we react to the injusticeby hating the offender.Hatred is a vote of "no confidence"in Creation. The invisible forcesin the universe which are capableof spinning the stars and planetsthrough space are also capable ofseeing that justice is done throughcause and effect. Our help is notneeded by Creation in this particulartask, even though it may hurtour vanity to have our aid rejected.All that is required of us to getrid of hatred is the understandingthat cause and effect are at workin every human situation - nothingis forgotten, nothing is forgiven,nothing is concealed.If you are very skeptical andyou want convincing proof thatcause and effect will, punish thesocialistic offenders for their errors,try this experiment at yourown risk. Insult the first ten peopleyou meet today. Now that youhave produced ten causes - tenangry people - make a brave attemptto escape the effects. Causeand effect always gets its man!You won't be able to escape thepenalty for your misdeeds; neitherwill the socialists be able to escapethe punishment they deserve.Your hatred will be totally unnecessary.I)