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   %AUTHORITY REQUIRE CONFESS COLLUSION LIMIT POWER+931011
            %CORRUPT DOUBLE BIND TRAGIC GOOD INTEND 931011

     Not  all  that it is good to do freely of  one's  own
free will---is  it equally good to do when required to  do
it  by  some  coercive authority acting without  limit  or
balance.

     Requiring  people  to behave in good and proper  ways
can lead to perversions  of  good  and  proper behavior---
especially  when  those persons in authority  who  set  up
and/or  administer the requirements are free of  effective
checks  and balances upon their powers.   Unlimited  power
corrupts.    Unbalanced  power  generates  alienation  and
perverted relationships.

     Granting  to  some  people  the  unchecked  power  to
require and coerce good and proper behavior has often  led
to  the perversion of good and  proper  behavior,  and has
led through alienation to perverted relationships.

     Healthy reflexive relationships cannot be required in
healthy  ways.    Attempts to  require  healthy  reflexive
relationships lead to alienation,  perverted relationships
and to misconceptions of  the  nature of  good  and proper
behavior.

     It  is good for people to confess their mistakes  and
to ask each  other for forgiveness  following occasions of
alienative   behaviors---if  they  are  free  to   do   so
voluntarily.    It  does  not follow that it is  good  for
people with unbalanced power and authority to require that
others   with  less  power  and  authority  confess  their
mistakes  and  regularly ask forgiveness of  the  powerful
authorities;  e.g., for mistakes made and for occasions of
offensive behavior.

     There are important differences between:

     (1)  Accurate DESCRIPTIONS of the nature and
    consequences of proper behavior,  and

     (2)  Authoritative PRESCRIPTIONS which require
    such proper behavior.

     Healthy   living   is  usually  not  the   fruit   of
requirements,   coercion and conformity.   Healthy  living
flows from the freedom to be safely vulnerable in intimate
relationships,   balanced  power  in  relationships,   and
uninhibited  creative  imaginations which complement  each
other.

     It  is  important  that  those  differences  not   be
blurred,   and that people not be confused  regarding  the
implications of them.
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
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