Friday, September 18, 2009

Moral Delusion---Practicality, Flexibility Vs. Commitment, Honesty

Hey, doesnt it seem like just yesterday that someone had lectured you on being practical, as it is the only sensible and the in-thing to do? Sensible, as it will work out for you only that way, and in-thing , as nobody finds any sense in being any other way, and therefore, just be a part of the herd, why should you be different and face hardships (So what if Robert Frost said otherwise about the difference in taking the road less traveled)?

Now, what are we mere mortals supposed to do? Be practical and hence sensible; or be true to oneself , idealistic and therefore be branded a moron? Well well, when did we ever find answering such questions easy? Till very recently, I had been very optimistic about listening to one's heart in a variety of matters, honesty, not cheating people , such kind of filmy stuff (O shoot, I am becoming cynical). Even though I believe in those qualities even now, its not easy being one of the few who believe so, and hence get hurt in the process, in a world, where the majority has no scruples in exploiting others in the garb of practicality and being flexible. Where is the commitment to relationships? Where is the commitment to values? Where is the commitment to their own selves? And most importantly, where is the effort towards any of the above? How much ever people might argue otherwise, a change in position, the flexibility, the change in hearts, the change in relationships, the so-called practicality and strategising is accompanied by a veritable deluge of high moral motives to justify it. All this happens not because a person has become more enlightened about the issue at hand and has decided to act accordingly (read "practically"). This change is in fact the evidence only of that gift of clairvoyance which warns the person and enables him/her to hop into another warm berth.

So, honestly, there cannot be any discussion/debate on Practicality Vs. Honesty as long as this term "practicality" is used by opportunists to escape accountability for their actions. Guess, life comes a full circle and everyone indeed gets an actual taste of their own practicality.

Practicality can only be lauded when optimal decisions are taken by the concerned parties without hurting anyone. In the absence of such a pre-requisite, what results is a moral delusion of the highest order.