We stand at a possible crossroads for change. In order to further fasilitate this change for the benefit of humankind, it becomes necessary for the people of the world to worry less about lawyers and laws and more about responsibilities. People must stop laying blame on others, and become the change that they wish to see in the world.

There comes a time in the course of the events of humankind in which it becomes necessary for the world to adopt and declare a series of principles for which to behave. These principles being required to secure the rights and liberties of all of humankind, and to maintain the firmness of freedom while at the concurent time, providing for the fairness and equality of all people.

We hold these principles, contained in this Declaration, evident in light of the collective sum of human history, and our concern in our present for our future. Without these principles, the short-term future of humankind becomes as bloody and as murderous as our past. And as a race, the future becomes non-existent.

These principles do not promise an after-life of perfection and bliss, but can provide a life, here and now, of satisfaction and peace. Not just for you and your families and your friends, but for all humankind; not just today or tomorrow, but for the rest of time. A life of virtue will lead to a life of happiness. A life of mutual respect will result in a life of peace, and a life of principles will result in the freedom of all humanity.

Principle 1) The Conservation of Morality: An equal amount of both good and evil exists in everything and everyone. Good and evil can not be created nor destroyed, one can only suppress the other.

The acceptance of this Conservation of Morality is imperative for all people to understand if there is to be any kind of future for humanity. The importance of this principle can not be stressed enough. For its acceptance is the acceptance of the ability to change in both yourselves and in others. A person can change, and a people can change. As hard as it is to change however, it is twice harder to accept the change in another, and to forgive others for their past mistakes and actions in favor of current actions and restitutions.

This Principle also deals with the balancing of both good and evil. And so there is a warning: If good or evil is suppressed for too long, one of the two will eventually fight back and surpress the other. The wise learns to control the evil, and to use it in peace and in solitude. Good must also be controled so that it does not become oppressive to others. Individuals must be left with the choice.

I speak now of good and evil, and the purity of them both. At the base of it all, there is but one word for good. Compassion is that word. However, to know compassion, one must be at peace with oneself. Thus, peace becomes part of the purity of goodness. It is far easier to use compassion when one has won, but becomes exponentially harder to do so when one is loosing. Thus, defensiveness becomes also a part of the purity of goodness. For compassion will lead to victory and good will triumph over the evil.

What is this evil to which people speak of? In its purest of forms; it has become known as vengeance. Evil however takes on many forms. There exists a cycle of evil which conclude with suffering. It begins with fear, then anger, hate, and aggression, then finally, vengeance. Once a single drop of blood is shed, more vengeance follows, and war begins. People fight, and people die. People then fight to avenge the dead until there is no one left to do the avenging. The only way this cycle can be broken is for an act of compassion to break the cycle, and to begin the peace process.

But, as it has once been said, "'Tis easier to prevent bad habits than to break them." This Declearation of Principles serves as a preempted strike upon evil and suffering. Perhaps, "strike" is not the most accurate of terms, for it is not meant to convey action that is to be taken, but rather, the willful avoidance of actions and attitudes that ought not to be taken or acted upon. It is said that people often act in favor of evil not because they are evil, but simply because they know of no other way with which to act. This is about to change:

The first principle, The Conservation of Morality has been already explained earlier in this Declaration. For the reason of importance, this Principle was set aside from the others, and in the interest of not appearing redundant, it will be left at that.

Principle 2) The Personification of Evil: One ought to fight evil as evil and never as evil as any particular person.

The Personification of Evil, fits very closely with The Conservation of Morality. People often treat others as evil incarnate, and believe that their enemy can do no good. This can be an excuss to give up on the peace process. As stated earlier in this Declaration, people often do evil because they know of nothing better, and not because they actually are evil. Evil can not be personified. People are not good or evil, only their motives can be. This will be explained more fully in concert with principle 9, The Ends of Means.

Principle 3) The Conflict of Them: An "us vs. them" mentality is not as powerful as an "us" mentality.

Following from the two former principles is the third, The Conflict of Them. Vengeance and Hate often grow when people try to separate others into the category of "Them." It becomes easy to dehumanize people by this classification. Once dehumanized, they can be feared and hated, and the cycle of evil has begun. To break this cycle, one can reach out with compassion, by turning them into us, by finding a common ground.

Principle 4) The Rule of Justice: It is always better to receive an injustice than to do one.

The Rule of Justice, the fourth principle, refutes the long held theory that justice is retribution and revenge. Revenge, ought not to be misinterpreted as justice. Justice is more closely associated with rehabilitation, reform, and the breaking of the cycle of evil for the accused. It therefore is always better to break the cycle before it begins than to begin the cycle and to be broken by it.

Principle 5) The Paradox of Trust: Trust must be earned but not given, yet sometimes one must give trust away in order to earn it.

The fifth principle also refutes a long held theory. The Paradox of Trust affirms that trust must be earned and not given, but as it is with paradoxes, it also refutes this. For giving away ones trust often earns the trust of the other, and a new cycle begins. This cycle is that of compassion and friendship.

Principle 6) The Perspectives of Truth: Many of the truths that we cling to greatly depend on our own points of view.

The Perspectives of Truth, the principle of the sixth, deals with seeing things from more than one perspective. A great many conflicts in history and in everyday life grow out of people seeing the truth from only one angle, while someone else looks onward from yet another angle. Both are adamant that their side is the truth, and both are correct, yet conflict remains.

Principle 7) The Elements of Personality: Strength of personality comes from Logic, Chaos, Patience, Experience, Wisdom, and Hope.

Logic is needed to put the mind in order. Chaos is the flexibility and change to avoid living in the routine of a mondane existence. Patience is waiting for the right time to do the right things. Experience is learning from past mistakes, and wisdom is the application of such knowledge. Finally, hope gets one through the pain long enough to find the joy. These are the Elements of Personality, and they make up the seventh principle.

Principle 8) The Realization of Perfection: The only perfect world is an imperfect one.

The eighth principle, The Realization of Perfection, brings across yet another paradox. One factor to which any true utopian society must have is the ability to adapt and change. Without this ability, society becomes both stagnant and oppressive. Therefore, change becomes an important quality in a perfect society. In addition, if a society were perfect, it could not advance since it is as perfect as it can be. Since, a society must have change to be perfect, and be without positive change in order for it to be perfect. This paradox forces humanity to look to the present. We live in a non-perfect world, but maybe that is what makes it so perfect. Wheather or not you strive for a heavenly goal, one ought to look to the journey here on earth. Here one can have a non-perfect perfection, but only if one works for it.

Principle 9) The Ends of Means: As it is with all things good and evil, it is the thought that counts.

The Ends of Means, the ninth principle, and one of the most important of the principles deals with the idea that it is the means which are the ends. The focus of this principle is on the journey, and not the destination. For the journey is the destination. But, this principle contains with in it yet another idea as well... motives or the means of thought. It has been said, that we judge ourselves by our intentions, and others by their actions. This principle serves to level the playing field, by judging everyone by their intentions. For, there are no perfect people in this world, only perfect intentions. As it is that people can not be good or evil, their motives very much can be. Good and evil aren't determined by the consequences or ends of the acts performed, but rather by the intentions or motives which lead up to those acts.

Principle 10) The Pursuit of Knowledge: The only limit to knowledge is knowing that there is none.

The tenth and final principle, The Pursuit of Knowledge, serves as a reminder that the journey never ends. Although these principles represent the lessons learned in human history, history is not over just yet. As Humanity continues to live and learn, so should its knowledge and wisdom. While these Principle are a great guide to live by, they are by no means rules, and are by no means the only principle which ought to be lived by.

We, as the combined wisdom of all of human histories past, assemble, appealing to the combined wisdom of all of humankind's present, do in the name of humanity's future, and by their authority, joyfully publish and declare these principles. Without which, the consequences are only the obvious. Therefore, humankind ought and must judge their own actions honestly, honorably, consciously, and according to these principles to which have been declared, before such actions are taken.

And for the support of this Declariation, a firm thanks to the wisdom of some of the greatest minds in all human history is required. For it is out of their great wisdom that this Declaration has been created. As a result of this, it becomes clear that the principle purpose of humankind is not only to merely survive, but to thrive... culturally, intellectually, and happily. And toward this goal, a required pledge of all the character and commitment humanity can muster as we proceed on this journey for a better future.