We live in a day of convenience. Our commerce, our gadgets, our daily lives are punctuate by brief episodes of clicking buttons or speaking commands which set tasks in motion that we once did for ourselves.

Necessary things are automated, We have forgotten how to do some of them ourselves. Necessity and convenience drive us.

Necessity may indeed be the mother of invention, but it has, at times, been the mother of injustice.

William Pitt observed, "Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."

Pitt spoke as the ally of Wilberforce in their quest to end slavery in England. Against their efforts were all sorts of arguments including those of necessity.

"We have no other choice."

"We must."

"We have to protect ourselves."

"We know it is wrong, but now is not the right time to correct things."

"If we do this now, everything will collapse."

There has never been a convenient time in history for doing the right thing.

It has always been against the tide to stand for the rights of others. Liberty has never been practical. Freedom has never been feasible. Truth has seldom seemed profitable. Justice has never been easy.

Light has never been appealing to those whose eyes have grown accustomed to the dark.

Our shortcuts can always be justified by expediency.

In business, public affairs, and personal relationships, we can make our case for walking over other people and nations if we can establish that it is in pour best interest do do so.

When we do, we ultimately lose.

It is as if we have created a Greek god, named him "Necessarius," with his goddess-wife "Conveniencia," and bowed to them without knowing that they are no gods. at all . They promise much, but will keep none of their far reaching promises.

Only what is right and true and just and compassionate will last beyond the moment.

All else is as fleeting as our notions of necessity.