How far does responsibility extend?

[uppityperson]

All the Syria stuff has gotten me thinking and wondering about IN GENERAL. Not specifically about Syria, but IN GENERAL, about responsibilities.

How far does individual responsibility extend? How far does community responsibility (defining community as larger than individual, which is a very broad range from family to neighborhood to town to state to State to world) extend?

Again, this is not about what to do or not do in or about Sryria, or any other of the places crap is happening, including here. But IN GENERAL, how far does responsibility extend?

For me, as an individual, I am responsible for myself, my actions and reactions. To hurt no one or no thing is my goal. I hold some responsibility towards my family, my local community, my larger community, the world. My neighborhood's responsibility is to make sure community things like our private road is maintained, though there are those in this community who do not. We also watch out for one another and help as we can. My town's responsibility is about the same. As is the larger state, State and world.

I do not have a specific point where I have responsibility to interfere with others, same applies to the larger communities. I think when an individual is harming others or things, but even that is not specific. I (individually and larger community) can not control everything that happens, and everyone else, but recognizing I am part of it all is important.

I am coming up with few exact points, moments, things, musing here.

Opening it up for discussion.

[Rex]

1. As long as our leaders feel that America is the Policeman of the World

then I guess we will be responsible to aid/stop all tragic events caused by dictators (or other malignant PTB) that we can somehow intervene in their country or tamper with their wars. Depends on the situation really, but America still pretends to be the Policeman of the World and must take all that responsibility that comes with said title. Or we can just pretend to take responsibility for what we decide is 'wrong' and 'right' for the rest of the planet and ignore all negative feedback.

Either way, I wish someone else would step up and take some of this responsibility since there are many capable but few willing.

[uppityperson]

3. How far does personal responsibility extend?

I agree, I wish other countries would do not, but as far as personal responsibility?

[Rex]

4. I think our personal responsibility can be meta

in that we might have intangible obligations all around the united states. The personal responsibility of a nation thought (or maybe a POTUS), I just don't know about really. That requires more thought. Besides the standard Policeman of the World reply.

[MineralMan]

2. That's an individual decision, I think.

Some people feel responsibility for much. Others not so much.

Nations are different from individuals, though. But the question is the same.