The Right to Responsibility - L.P. Jacks

"First of all, Dr. Karoll," I asked, "I'd like to know what Jonathan meant by referring to me as a Noble-Con?"

"This term," began Dr. Karoll, "is short for Noble Contender. All who aspire to serve in a high position of authority in our government must prove themselves by spending two years among the common people as a defender of the rights of individuals, a righter of wrongs on the order of the Knights of the Round Table and King Arthur's Court. This is the way that we maintain a society where the spirit of the law is upheld in the unprogressive, as well as in the most advanced of our communities."

"Knights of the Round Table! Why, that was mythology, sir. There is no evidence they ever existed," I said with a laugh. "As for justice, how can you have any kind of justice by settling differences with knives?"

"The Order of Noble Contenders, David, is the very cornerstone of our method of preserving individual freedom and rights, the ideals upon which America was founded," said Dr Karoll seriously. "A Noble Contender may challenge any man in the nation, even including a member of the World Government Council if he believes the rights of an individual are being infringed. He is obliged to challenge a man like Caleb on any occasion that he is asked, unless he has reason to believe that the projected wrong has not been committed. In such an event, he is obliged to ascertain who is in the wrong and take the action necessary to bring justice."

"I venture to say that a Noble Contender leads a dangerous life," I commented.

"Only one out of three survives," said Dr. Karoll softly.

"Then who is willing, or rather, gets forced into this job?"

"It is not a job, David. It is the highest aspiration of our finest youth to be accepted as a Noble Contender. Those who survive have proven their dedication to serve the needs of the race without concern for their own personal welfare."

I was silent for a few minutes as I thought over the experience I had just been through. Dr. Karoll waited quietly for me to bring up my next question.

"Dr. Karoll...the knife and harness belt...they were yours...you were a Noble Contender!"

"Yes, David."

"You spent two years visiting communities like the one I was in this morning?" I asked, amazed at the idea that Dr. Karoll had survived the experience of a Noble Contender.

"Well, yes, David. Some were made up of more highly evolved people and some were less progressed. As a nation, we are so organized that we generally limit the range of difference in individual abilities of the members of each community. This promotes competitive spirit and generates self confidence among their members."

"Can anyone challenge another?" I asked, thinking about the way a bully might wreck havoc in a community.

"If a man believes that another person who is unable to defend himself has been wronged or if he becomes aware of an incident that is insulting to a woman or has been present when a man has shown disrespect for womanhood by using obscene language or by any suggestive act, then this man presents himself to his community council and asks for a decree scroll outlining the offense, the punishment, the confession required and the demand for the named party's signature. The case is investigated by the council sufficiently to check the details for accuracy. No one may challenge a man for an infringement of his own rights but only on the behalf of another."

"But can the council possibly know they have the facts, especially in such matters as you just mentioned?"

"This, David, is one of the areas where our society has made a great step forward. We recognize the use of intuitive faculties by developed psychics. We have refined tools developed by scientists to establish the recognition of individuals for their abilities and to back up their findings, if need be. No man dares to perjure himself before the council for he will unquestionably be exposed immediately and meet severe consequences. We tolerate no lying under any circumstances. Crimes arising from the failure to achieve self control are understandable and are dealt with in a constructive way but lying is a premeditated crime against the race and creates endless confusions."

"Well, now," I said, "that does put things in a different light."

"Yes, it does. It takes the settling of differences between individuals back to ancient times, such as in the days when some of the Pharaohs were great psychics. They could not be lied to by any man. Of course, they were limited to settling only a few of the problems among the commoners."

"I must say you are stretching my mind." I paused, and then wondered, "A man cannot challenge another for a wrong to himself, only if he is defending the rights of someone else?"

"By this means we assure that a challenger is defending human rights and is risking his life for a noble cause. Without this measure, a skilled fighter could terrorize a community and serve base personal ends."

"If every man in the community can challenge a wrong doer and demand a confession, why do you need a Noble Contender?"

"Your experience this morning gives you part of the answer to that question," said Dr. Karoll. "However, there is much more reason than that. A Noble Contender has a far more highly developed sense of values than the racial average. He is advanced in his understanding of the principles that bring progress to the race. Our scientific methods for the testing and evaluation of character are used upon those who aspire to the Order of the Noble Contenders. This assures the nation that only pure-minded and sincerely dedicated men will attain a position of high political authority. No one may be considered for election to a high office who has not fully demonstrated his willingness to die to preserve the rights of the nation's humblest member."

"It is still difficult for me to see how violence can possibly be the foundation for justice," I mused. "I thought that when we had peace on earth that the lion would lie down with the lamb, that we would no longer tolerate bloodshed...besides it is unChristian."

"In your times, the police force used violence to maintain order, David. Would anyone suggest that a police force made up of the most honorable men in the land, themselves personally responsible for their actions, could represent an evil use of violence to preserve order? And who but a Noble contender could force the hand of an unjust judge or a corrupt police chief or a brutal police officer? Does it not seem more appropriate that every able bodied man in the nation who honors the Constitution has the role of police officer and that no man, regardless of his status, is above being brought to justice by a special police force made up of the noblest men of the land, if his actions deprive even one other person of his rights? An obscene word, the mistreatment of a child, the pollution of a stream, cruelty to an animal, any such offense may require a man to confess his error, accept a just penalty, and desist from such action or possibly meet death at the hand of a fellow citizen who is willing to defend the rights of others with his own life."

"A nation of honor bound policemen...hmmm," I answered thoughtfully, "I'm sure there are more details involved than you've given me to making such a system operate."

"The entire principle lies in the idea of individual dedication to service to the highest good of the race, and the provision for this individual dedication to express itself, David."

"Those are beautiful words, Dr. Karoll, but we had the same kind of beautiful words from our politicians, our ministers, our college presidents, and the heads of large corporations. Yes these same men were in authority when private interests clear cut great national forests and raped every natural source of life and beauty in America because of their greed. I don't see why more of the same kind of beautiful words should make any difference."

"They wouldn't have in your day, David."

"Then how do they now?"

"We have made use of the channels of communication to generate lofty ideals."

"Sounds like brainwashing."

"No, David. Just accurate knowledge of the facts of life and the purpose for human life on earth."

I was beginning to feel the strain of the emotions that our conversation was bringing to the surface. Alice evidently noticed.

"I believe David is satisfied and can rest now, Father. Don't you think he should?"

Dr. Karoll and Alice left quietly, leaving me to wonder about all that had happened.

"A society where every man of honor has the privilege...no...the obligation to act responsibly...even to lay down his own life to challenge evil...what an exciting idea!" I thought to myself.