On Ideals
This story telling is getting quite interesting. I have received lot of thought provoking replies. I am unable to reply individually but I want to continue this process as this is helping me to stay connected with you and learn a lot. Of course I am going to use the wisdom gained in my future communications and I am assuming that I have the I.P rights
By all means use your wisdom and skill in putting across your thoughts,what you stand for etc in as convincing and acceptable way as you can, but never lower the standard. For the standard is our only protection against the slide to mediocrity and oblivion.
Remember that no person or nation lives forever. But their thoughts,their goals, their ideals and what they stood endures long after they have become dust. That is what we stand for; ideals that have stood the test of time and which we carry forward to generations who will come, long after we have gone.
In 1997, a man used to stand outside the White house holding a lighted candle in his hand, a silent protestor against the US sanctions against Iraq. He would turn up there every evening and would stand there for a few hours well into the night. One evening, it was wet, windy and very cold. As usual the man came, wearing a coat with the collar turned up against the bitter cold, and an umbrella to shelter the tiny flame of his candle from the blustery wind. As he stood there, the guard at the gate, who used to see him everyday and occassionally waved to him in friendly camaraderie, came out to him and said, “Man! I know you are committed to this cause. But look at this night! It is so cold and horrible; you are one man, standing here alone, do you thing you will change them?” The man looked at the guard and smiled. “I don’t do this to change them,” he said, “I do this so that they will not change me.”
Much has happened since 1997 and history has been written in words of shame by the blood of innocents. Howevere there is somewhere one man who still believes in justice and mercy and that truth will eventually prevail over falsehood. That is his legacy. The legacy of a man whose name we don’t know. But his story inspires others. We need such people more than we need those who have the power and use it only for oppression.
So the next question I want to ask you is:
What are your ideals? I will be very pleased to receive your response.