We live our lives with plethora of perceptions. We love someone, we hate others and we adore a whole lot of friends and this is what makes us human. We observe them, analyze them knowingly or unknowingly in our sub conscious mind, evaluate them and consequently approve for a future relationship. This is known as the art of Judgment and it is what enables us to differentiate between virtues and vices existent in our society. After all there is something that prompts us not to go with that particular stranger or not to incorporate that peculiar habit. It happens to everyone and no one is an exception to it.
Priorities vary in a practical life. Once again we admire or despise fellow cohorts. Things go smoothly and you come across all possible outcomes of these particular likings or dislikings. Collaborations/infidelities/loyalty/friendship/politics parturition from these two basic emotions.
Real test of one’s conscience and the greatest ethical question arises when there is a radical change in the ambience/scenario/situation. All of a sudden, you are in an atmosphere where your previous opponents are your recent colleagues or vice versa. Which side do you choose then?
When you are mature enough to weigh your future assets, you make judgments but do not aver them publicly and that is what happens mostly in a professional world. Neither you expressed your emotions earlier and nor are you going to express them now. Such persons rarely think of ethics.
But the question of ethics actually arises for two other kinds of people. One who are open hearted and embrace anyone they come across and second who are judgmental and find it difficult to shed previous opinions and collaborate with a previous opponent just because the situation has changed.
I too was a witness to this dilemma. Today I wish to express my feeling and approach for this ethical question. When I faced a tough situation like this, I simultaneously came across a person who kept motivating me to forget all previous infidelities and animosity and start a new life with an open heart forgiving for all previous misdeeds. Many a times it appeared as if I am being rigid and inhumane not to cooperate with those colleagues.
But that is definitely not the case. I respect all human beings and I like them all. I have never thought ill even about my enemies. The actual thing in question here is Truth. Truth must sustain in all circumstances. Previously my recent colleague used to be my opponent and I supported my cause (and abhorred his) because I did what I think was ethically correct. I stood for that cause because it was a manifestation of Truth and my self conscience motivated me to do so. Now in changed conditions, if I would forget what happened in the past, certainly I would gain professionally but Truth would suffer. It would severely amputate the status of Truth and the world will see to this as the loss of that ethical cause. If I would succumb to my greed/whims, who will carry the torch and let everyone know what lies beneath? Who will spread the light and let everyone see the Truth hidden underneath? Doers would pay for their sins in this world, only if someone is there to remind others of the past otherwise temporary detest to sins might let the sinners think that Truth and Justice are relative and they can be avoided after changing the native village or aborting the ambience or simply bribing. Someone has to be there to constantly keep reminding sinners of their past and the need of penance. I sincerely believe that one should not give up his hatred for sinners unless sinners show some repentance and willingness to change and if we would make this world a cake walk for them, who would motivate them to indulge in absolution and reparation
I would like to give you an example. No matter how much the world reckons Mahatma Gandhi and no matter how many award winning movies are made show casing his borrowed principles, it’s a fact that Indians detest him for what he did. I have seen that most of us are taught by our own parents about how he practiced pseudo secularism and played a crucial role in granting a colossal status to Jinnah. Past generation is the only torch bearer (Since all our text books and media were owned by Congress for a sufficiently long time) and because of them only we don’t exactly take him as Mahatma, though we may like some of his ideals.
Similarly if we will collaborate with our ethical opponents with whom we fought over an issue as great as the Truth itself, how can we blame politicians and political parties for their opportunistic allegiances? We are no better than them
Lastly I wish to say that standing for Truth may make you rigid in front of some silly colleagues who belittle ethics; nevertheless you would be satiated with your inner self. Giving up this rigidity might earn you easy accessibility in a professional life, but then it is a matter of choice – What kind of life you believe in and what have your parents taught you
