Today I though about my conversations with my sons Cedric (萧光義) and Alexander (萧光仁) when they were teens. As mother, it is my duty to pass on my family values to my children based on what my father taught me to examine own actions based on morals, respect, obligations and duties since I have memories in life.

My father always reminds me even after he passed away for long time but he and his teaching are forever fresh in my heart:

Don’t ask what others do to you, but examine own deeds and actions to others, everyday!

My father taught me about respect, meantime emphasis law and order. He taught me the essence of tolerance, understanding and pragmatism, but he never taught me to surrender without moral and legal reason.

GuangYi 光義(Cedric) and GuangRen 光仁(Alexander)never have the chance to meet their grandfather, I do, however, hope they will remember the meaning of their Chinese names. and do their best to live based on moral teachings of Hsiao (Xiao 萧)family, Being able to be named by Hsiao family tree tradition is an exceptional recognition and explicits the family duty expectation that my father had on me before he passed away. It is more than moral duty but honor to me.

The world is facing a serious problem because lack of moral education for respect in our schooling system and social education in our society. Religion lessons =/= morals lessons because God can only help those who help themselves. Everyone like to talk about freedom and think they can claim unlimited rights to act whatever they like. They are wrong, there are Law and Order #lawandorder they have to follow. It is not like they could forgiven by confessing to priest in the church, even that, as a Buddhist I truly believe we all will be judged and received rightful punishment when we face God one day, In real life people who intentionally violate rights of others should be punished according to laws.

Laws and regulations set the legal boundary to build the peace and order in our society; only when being able to build can think and talk about growing. In life the #oposite of #freedom is #obligations; from #rights are #duties . One only has rights to claim freedom if s/he can first show respect to others and can act based on morals, obligations & duties.

When I read nonsense insults to Dr. Marc Van Ranst on twitter today, I sighed.  I do hope the Belgian schooling system can emphasis more moral and good social behaviors, but not emphasis on rights by ignore obligations and duties in education, which should start from the early as possible.

I do hope Belgian police can catch those who abusive their preconceived freedom and rights by insulting others on social media and let them receive the rightful punishments, regardless their age or social status.