Editorial»
Vice or virtue ?
JAN 15 - Athin but distinct line separates diplomacy from hypocrisy and tact from sycophancy. But for a tactlessly candid person, that line seems blurred and he would not refrain from criticising someone, who does not practise his ‘professed’ frankness.
Yes, his candour is ostensible. It is used to concealing his real nature. For is he open about himself? Rarely so. It must be so enjoyable to speak one’s mind about others; under the guise of being sincere one gets away with debasing jibes. But it is truly a challenge to find a genuine compliment to pay to comfort someone other than one’s alter ego.
But diplomacy has brought me accusations of buttering up to people, who hardly have anything of interest to me; those same people don’t even return the favour of flattery. So, what am I being nice for? My tolerance to listen has kept me from hanging up on Miss you’ve-got-to-know-what-I-did-this-weekend.
Finally, when she finishes her long story that does not concern me whatsoever, a sigh of relief escapes my lips as I put down the receiver, followed by a ‘humph’ when I find the TV screen displaying the names of the fifteen assistant cameramen, who worked on the movie that I had meant to watch.
For fear of breaking a superficially established harmony, and in circumstances that can easily turn to be stressful, I have chosen to be acquiescent. I readily nod my head to a belief I don’t support but with a jaw set to be contradictorily determined. Beneath my veneer I conceal antipathy towards an another person’s overbearing disposition. I also concede that I have seen stubbornness ruffle a few feathers and nullify domineering behaviour. But being a pacifist that I am I have failed miserably in ‘fighting tyranny to death’.
The other day, a comment made by a fellow passenger in a local bus caught my attention. He spoke aloud an instruction to the driver, “Go slow, there is an army vehicle ahead”. It is given that one should not drive recklessly but it is worth wondering whether one should be so accommodating.
Conformity can be a virtue in the context of similar situations where silence or inaction can be more effective. But skills of adapting to the environment can be detrimental when revolution is the need of the hour.
A harmless lie told to protect someone is acceptable whereas there is possibility of jeopardising camaraderie with a truthful complaint lodged against a friend. Thus, it can be a difficult ethical choice between honesty and loyalty in such a case where one cancels the other.
These are sufficient illustrations of the inter-convertible quality between vice and virtue that will forever prevent me from being righteous. Needless to say that I quite idolise Robin Hood who was one immoral conduct proved to be far more beneficial to the society than thousand farcical virtues could ever be.Posted on: 2004-01-16 03:34
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