Lately I've been dogged by a persistent question whose answer continues to elude me. Namely 'whatever happened to honorable people?'
Where have they gone to? Do they exist at all?'
Reading the media headlines these days one could be forgiven to believe that perhaps honour and integrity are not only becoming rare
qualities, but they are values that are no longer needed in today's world.
So much so that when scandals and other shennanigans inflict our most respected high-level officials such as one beleaguering the Anti Corruption (KPK) chief, the public's response is one of morbid fascination rather than shock. It is as if our moral subconscious has been waiting for something like this to happen, that it was just a matter of time before a person's true nature is unmasked and we know that it will not disappoint: we have always suspected our heroes and idols to have clay feet to begin with.
And who knows perhaps deep down, somehow this fact pleases us. Because we too succumb to similar weaknesses and failings. And when those we look up to fall from grace, it relieves us from the pressure and need to be better people.
However, when we set low standards on ourselves and have no high expectations on our leaders, then it is no surprise if we create for our selves a society of low quality individuals and deficient moral values where perhaps virtues such as honour and integrity, essential prerequisites for everyone especially leaders, have never even seen the light of day.
So, are honour and integrity nature or nurture? Something that is learned, like good manners and a foreign language, or something that we carry in our genes together with our capacity for reasoning and analysis?
I suppose it also has to do with how one views humans to begin with - as a creature inherently bad with the occasional effort to be and do good; or as a being intrinsically good but suffers from the occasional lapse of judgment and weakness of emotions.
I certainly don't have the answer but the result of the last legislative elections show very interesting results (based on Quick Counts) in that despite Indonesia consisting of largely moslem population none of the overtly Islamic parties did very well. As a matter of fact they've performed exceptionally badly compared to secular parties and the previous elections'.
What does this tell us if not that deep down most people don't feel that religion and politics can mix without the former losing its integrity, and believe that worldly problems could and should be solved by worldly and pragmatic individuals?
But I'm digressing. The point is when religious leaders vie with public officials, politicians, bankers and house of legislative
members for dreary examples of all human failings that range from greed, corruption to lust and hunger for power, where do we turn for our need to lead an honorable life? That is other than in Hollywood dramas?
Though reading about Bernie Maddox, the investment guru that swindled his rich and famous investors through his Ponzi schemes show that lack of integrity is not necessarily a reflection of our cultural character, the downside of it is that it is very much part of our human flaw.
Unfortunately, in this country, human flaws are something that are not only tolerated but often excused and expected simply because perfect goodness is only for the Almighty who is believed to be very forgiving of human failings anyway.
Which goes back to my original question of where are the honourable people?
Perhaps the answer is, as long as we continue to succumb to and tolerate failings, weaknesses and corruption both moral and mental among us, honour and integrity will remain unattainable virtues that belong only in the realm of the gods.
The tragedy is not that they are unattainable. It is that we have no desire to go after them whatsoever... (Desi Anwar. First published on Tempo English)
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livi
said:
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... When we see financial advisor failed to advise it's finance decission, or Prosecutor failed to avoid bribe, or the extreem example Judas Iscariot, he know everything about heaven and hell, but he slipped only for 30 silver coin that he even don't use it, because he comitted suicide after that. After all repentance is unavailing. I found that the more we know, the more proud we have. Proud is good but Over proud..... we will not going anywhere with that over proud, than failing into deep black hell |
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