D0MA, Patrol (Open)

[Shika Nesshin]

Nesshin nods thoughtfully.

"You don't make laws against what doesn't happen, true," he muses.

[Kitsu Murato]

"True, but Bushido is also only a guide rather than law. It is not a crime for me to observe callously as a man starves. Compassion isn't required of me, only expected of me by some," Murato says. "And such ideals were provided by heaven to help reach a potential we already had. Just because Bushido exists does not mean that we would be incapable of such things without it."

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"To say humans would be incapable without codified morality might be a stretch, but it was the Kami who gave us civilization, who brought us out of barbarism", he countered. "Another culture may have laws against theft and murder, but they don't know honor or what it stands for. Without knowing why something is bad, a people won't reach their potential, and regardless, having potential is worthless without a way to attain it."

Honestly he was confused as to why a Lion, of all people, would be contrary to any of his points.

[Shika Nesshin]

An interesting debate, this, Nesshin thinks, and he looks to the Kitsu for his answer.

[Kitsu Murato]

"There are those that feel pained or offended when they make mistakes that defy the tenets. They live those tenets. And there are those that follow tenets to simply avoid notice or social stigma. Codes are tools and some use them to measure their personal worth while others use them to help disguise their apathy. If we had been incapable of the tenets without Bushido, then being told what it was would not have made us capable. And so, I believe that every person has it in them to embody them without ever being taught them. The fact that they have been given to us simply makes it easier to measure ourselves, but does not make it easier to act in line with them."

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

He didn't shrug, but this was certainly getting out of hand. He would try to reiterate it one more time, then likely agree to disagree if the Lion continued.

"This is a discussion about my statement over the world being too wicked to be victorious with honesty and kindness alone", he said, trying to bring things back from the direction they'd gone. "I supported that with a statement about the need for Bushido, so far you have said it isn't necessary. I don't take that to mean you believe the ideals are bad, clearly not. You are saying, if I'm understanding you correctly, that goodness is innate to humans? Of course it is, just like wickedness, yet there is a substantial lack of guidance and rules on how to be wicked, and certainly a great amount of laws and philosophy on how to be virtuous. I would think the disparity of those two alone, and the idea that virtue is widely seen as the more difficult path, fraught with hardship, that the world has a great deal more rampant wickedness regardless of a people's innate potential for good."

[Kitsu Murato]

"I don't disagree that there is a great deal of wickedness. But the measure of success is not in ones honor but in ones capability. Walking a high or low path determines only the worth a person places on their soul and the judgement they receive at their journey's end. So I believe one can live in honor alone, and be as strong as those that live only partially or completely in wickedness."

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"It is a nice belief, it's my wish, but reality has simply shown me different time and again", he replied. "In any case, I do... well... wish you both enough fortune to walk a straight line."

[Shika Nesshin]

Nesshin nods. It's a pleasant enough wish.

"May your footing be sure," he offers in reply.

[Kitsu Murato]

"May the fortunes guide your path," Murato said with a nod to the Scorpion.