The New Face Of "Deal With It"

 
Define personal integrity. The status quo rocks on the principle that if an individual hired to do a job finds something happening they don't personally agree with, that the individual either works from within the organization to affect change... or simply leaves. Because maybe it's something complicated that may cause unintended problems if brought out into the open. And maybe it's something that might get warped out of shape and used by those with personal agendas.

Once that person leaves they're out of it. And their personal integrity, or the perception that they are leading an honorable life, is restored. By divorcing themselves from a situation that they felt compromised their principles they are theoretically cleansed. Then again... there are others who think they have a moral duty to take action.

Define moral duty. We have to think that it is a possibility that some may stumble across what they consider are truly egregious practices. The world isn't perfect, after all. And a few may think that they have a responsibility, if not a right, to reveal things that they think are wrong. Plain wrong. They have to be exposed, regardless of how many other people's good efforts are affected by blowing the whistle. And perhaps more importantly, regardless of what happens to them. It becomes a heroic role – somewhat scary and somewhat alluring at the same time. These people have obviously come to the conclusion (for one reason or another) that a whisper to the proper authorities just isn't enough; the status quo needs to be given a big shake.

My mother, who always had a wise word for every situation, would most likely just say, "Who the hell do they think they are? Aren't there enough problems in the world without them stirring things up?"

What it comes down to, in certain circumstances, is how much an individual is willing to risk giving up should the powers that be take exception to their actions. Their life? Their livelihood? Their future? The good they might have done by lending their intelligence to improving things as they fly through life instead of taking one big leap now and hoping the parachute opens? Because there's the whole thing about potentially spending the rest of one's life either in prison or in exile. The consequences of performing one's moral duty can be devastating.

Define solution. Perhaps we need people with the courage of their convictions. Perhaps we are on the right track as we fiddle to get assurances like whistleblower protection policies working right. And then people who legitimately speak out don't have to ruin their lives in doing so. If the foundations of society are as durable as we like to believe they are and there are changes that need to be made, things can be set right. And moral standards that may have been misplaced can be put back.

Then again, I'm a Canadian. And we generally tend to think that, given cool heads, everything can be worked out for the best.

So, sorry for the heaviosity today. As the story plays itself out, I'm just glad that I didn't send that message that I was thinking about sending a while ago about a certain someone or something to somebody that contained certain words.