Things I Need To Teach My Children

[billroper]

On the list of things that I need to teach to my children:

If someone is telling you that the thing that they are suggesting that you do is illegal, but you should do it anyway, because it is the right thing to do, you need to very carefully consider two things.

First, it is entirely possible that this person does not have *your* best interests at heart. If I were a betting man, I would put money on it.

Second, if you actually believe that it is a moral imperative that you do this thing, you should consider the possible consequences for *you* personally and whether or not there is another, better, and *legal* way to deal with the moral imperative.

There is always the chance that failure to act will mean that you miss your chance to stand with, say, Martin Luther King, Jr. and work to right some great wrong.

But what are the chances that this bozo is the next Martin Luther King, Jr.? (Or other important historical figure of your choosing.)

Low.

Really low.

Darn near microscopic.

What are the chances that he is just trying to get *you* in trouble?

A lot higher, I'd venture.

This is not the sort of experience that you want to be learning from...