Corruption loses

The movement crystallized by Anna Hazare in India is heartening.  A welcome sight to see so many individuals speaking up against corruption, something our culture has been riddled with for decades.

For all those who are still doubtful about joining and supporting  the movement, here are a few possibilities they might be thinking about:

——————————————

“Why should I support it?  I actually stand to lose if everyone becomes honest.”

“It won’t work because the system is widespread, deep rooted, age old.”

“It is futile, too many people are corrupt.  From top to bottom.”

Some misguided, stupid people might even believe “A little corruption is necessary.”

——————————————

Well, if the malaise is age old and deep rooted it just means it might take longer than otherwise, and it certainly will take more effort than otherwise because it will be difficult.  But then just because things are difficult is no reason to not work towards them.  We wouldn’t ever get anything we wanted that way.

If we take the corrupt view and what we will lose, we forget to look for what we will gain.  What can truly be depended upon needs to be delivered by a method respected by everyone.  Without this positive regard for the mechanism, it can never lead to delivering more than what it has in the past.  Suspicion, skepticism, cynicism, disbelief – they all lead to an erosion of value, and we can only expect such a system to spiral downwards increasingly rapidly.

The movement across the country has millions now participating, and the numbers are growing.  Have we ever realized that evil seems to be strong and the evil gather unsummoned, almost instinctively.  Why does good believe itself to be weak, or subservient to evil?  Should it not be the other way around?  How can we gather all the good together to fight evil?  It won’t be a short fight, or even one with an end, but at least the right side will win!  Each one of us joining in and raising their voices is causing the change to goodness, and I hope this will teach us to do the same in more areas where the good suffer.

Have you ever thought about the definition of ‘corruption’?  Dictionary.com says it is…

– noun

1. the act of corrupting  or state of being corrupt.

2. moral perversion; depravity.

3. perversion of integrity.

4. corrupt  or dishonest proceedings.

5. bribery.

6. debasement or alteration, as of language or a text.

7. a debased form of a word.

8. putrefactive decay; rottenness.

9. any corrupting  influence or agency.

All of the above apply, but to my mind the simplest understanding of Corruption is to…

“Seek what is not Deserved!”

Whenever we seek what we do not deserve, we are acting in a corrupt manner, demonstrating Corruption.  Of course the key is to know and accept what we deserve.  This requires being aware and honest with ourselves.  And then to have the courage to deal with ourselves as we deserve.

This responsibility we have to ourselves is the key!!  We must know the significance of this responsibility by realizing the effect it has on us.  We must also realize the connected nature of our environment with us, and how important it is to be responsible towards others in our society as well.

A big support to Anna would be what we could bring… the change… as Gandhiji said:

“Be the Change you wish for!”  This is not going to be just a support, but an imperative.

Here’s to moving the nation towards a responsive, responsible people!!

Advertisement