Oh dear, nothing better to do on a dreary, cold, wet day here in London, England so resorted to reading a dictionary, a couple of entries of which I'd like to share.
Here is one definition of the word moral which in the context of posting this as a CyProb thread may enlighten our discussions on such matters as whether, here and now in 2008, it is right or wrong for our lands in the Occupied North to be confiscated by an illegal Occupation Regime and "sold" on for financial and political profit. Is it moral and legal to deal in these stolen goods or for foolish ex-pats and others to "buy" them?
I see I also mentioned the word legal, so here also is the def. for the word "legal" (for morally corupt members, illegal is the opposite meaning).
1mor·al
Pronunciation:
\?m?r-?l, ?mär-\
Function:
adjective
Etymology:
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin moralis, from mor-, mos custom
Date:
14th century
1 a: of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior : ethical <moral judgments> b: expressing or teaching a conception of right behavior <a moral poem> c: conforming to a standard of right behavior d: sanctioned by or operative on one's conscience or ethical judgment <a moral obligation> e: capable of right and wrong action <a moral agent>2: probable though not proved : virtual <a moral certainty>3: perceptual or psychological rather than tangible or practical in nature or effect <a moral victory> <moral support>
— mor·al·ly \-?-l?\ adverb
synonyms moral , ethical , virtuous , righteous , noble mean conforming to a standard of what is right and good. moral implies conformity to established sanctioned codes or accepted notions of right and wrong <the basic moral values of a community>. ethical may suggest the involvement of more difficult or subtle questions of rightness, fairness, or equity <committed to the highest ethical principles>. virtuous implies moral excellence in character <not a religious person, but virtuous nevertheless>. righteous stresses guiltlessness or blamelessness and often suggests the sanctimonious <wished to be righteous before God and the world>. noble implies moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean, or dubious in conduct and character <had the noblest of reasons for seeking office>.
1le·gal
Pronunciation:
\?l?-g?l\
Function:
adjective
Etymology:
Anglo-French, from Latin legalis, from leg-, lex law
Date:
circa 1500
1: of or relating to law2 a: deriving authority from or founded on law : de jure b: having a formal status derived from law often without a basis in actual fact : titular <a corporation is a legal but not a real person> c: established by law ; especially : statutory3: conforming to or permitted by law or established rules4: recognized or made effective by a court of law as distinguished from a court of equity5: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of the profession of law or of one of its members6: created by the constructions of the law <a legal fiction>