Exchanging Pleasantries

[Deux]

Deux nodded at the statement but did little less. Before he had been able to think of things to add or ask but for this he had nothing. He stood up and stretched his back with a few satisfying pops. Stretching out his other joints he sighed after realizing how lazy he felt. The conversations with Kaden had been good but he hadn’t had an opportunity to practice while he was guarding him. He stood and pulled a knee into his chest.

It took him a few minutes but Deux came across a question. He switched the leg he was stretching and looked at Kaden. “Who makes the man made laws? Is it a just an expansion of the natural law or something else?” Deux let his leg down and pulled an arm across his chest. It may not have been the most he could do but it was beneficial.

[Kaden]

"Men and women make man-made law of course. Who specifically makes it in specific societies is one of the things that separates one political system from another. In the United Interplanetary Republic the highest law making body is the Senate. But that is only one way." Kaden had come to believe it was the right way as well. He preferred democracy, even representative democracy, to the way things were on his own planet where he had no voice.

"However, to get back on task, the lesson I am trying to teach is one of the most fundamental and important. No man, or woman, is above the law. Ever. With natural law, as in some of the cases we've discussed, the very nature of the law itself means it is naturally correcting. If Mr. Archer became a wanton murderer the community would either dissolve or everyone would band together to kill him. Either way, the situation would resolve itself. When it comes to man-made law it is up to man to punish those that break it. But, either way, there is no person who is above the law for the law is there to ensure our survival. And anyone who breaks it jeopardizes the entire race for their own selfish reasons."

[Deux]

“Alright,” Deux said slowly as his arms returned to his sides, “that is understandable. The laws are created and put in place for protection of the community.”

He closed his eyes and thought through the books he had read in the past. Laws were not brought up often, some mentioned but never explained. Mostly they said how an individuals or countries had done something illegal. There was one other example though that came up a number of times.

“What about the times when laws are made to hurt people,” he asked crossing his arms, “Targeted groups of people and made it legal to persecute them or even kill them?”

[Kaden]

Kaden had often heard this question come up and his upbringing and politics often clashed with other people on the issue. On one hand, he strongly wanted to tell Deux what his own opinion was. But this was not a discussion, at least, it was not just a discussion. He and Deux were not two people with fully formed ideas on the subject willing to defend them. He was supposed to be guiding Deux into finding his own ideas so he didn't immediately respond with his opinion.

"It has been argued by many that such laws are illegal. That is an odd concept. Since law defines what is legal and illegal how can a law ever be illegal. But this is why many draw the distinction between natural law and man made law. Not all. There are many schools of thought that say that man made law is all there is and no law can ever be illegal though it may be unjust. But I feel there are more people out there who do make the distinction and I do as well. I think, what you speak of, is a situation where a man made law is in conflict with a natural law. In such situations, natural law always wills out and will wash the unjust man made law away."

[Deux]

“Alright,” Deux said after Kaden had finished. He allowed himself to consider what the man had said before speaking again.

“If a law is unjust or in conflict, then what is the point of making it? They harm more than they protect, which you stated was a reason for the creation of a law. They also target a part of the community. It would seem counter productive.”

Deux moved closer to the bars and crouched down. He usually kept his distance, but he was interested in the man’s response. Besides he was barely within striking distance and if Kaden tried anything he could easily move.