Blame game

 

​We belong to a society, which is predominantly prone to blaming. This evident even in out expression of mishaps. படி தடுக்கி விட்டது for slipped from steps and fell.

 

In fact, I had to dish out a very long debate yesterday with some senior as to what all could be the reasons for not inviting or not letting the president inaugurate the  much-debated Sengol event. 

 

I told him to stop confusing personal preferences and prejudices, media narratives, acceptance by socio-moralistic norms, religious strictures, legally tenable rights,  constitutionally correct actions, political mileage and/or expediency, restoration of traditional symbols, revival of cultural identity and pride, rectifying historical mistakes, manipulating mass emotional attention and may be a combination of some of the above. I asked him, what is your problem?

 

Non-performance was never discussed all these years? 

 

But when someone performs, we start blaming, questioning, debating, justifying and a whole lot of other things.

 

I have him a few examples and finally used the best weapon to convey something i.e, a short story involving Nasiruddin and donkey.

 

Avoiding Criticism 

 

Nasiruddin and his son were traveling with their donkey. Nasiruddin preferred to walk while his son rode the donkey. 

 

But then they passed a group of bystanders, and one scoffed,

 

1.“Look— that selfish boy is riding on a donkey while his poor old father is forced to walk alongside. That is so disrespectful. What a horrible and spoiled child!“

 

Nasiruddin and his son felt embarrassed, so they switched spots—this time Nasiruddin rode the donkey while his son walked. Soon they passed another group of people.

 

2.  “Oh, that’s detestable!“ one of them exclaimed. “That poor young boy has to walk while his abusive father rides the donkey! That horrible man should be ashamed of himself for the way he’s treating his son. What a heartless parent!“

 

 

Nasiruddin was upset to hear this. He wanted to avoid anybody else’s scorn, so he decided to have both himself and his son ride the donkey at the same time. As they both rode, they passed another group of people. “That man and his son are so cruel,” one bystander said.

 

3. “Just look at how they are forcing that poor donkey to bear the weight if two people. They should be put in jail for their despicable act. What scoundrels!“

 

Nasiruddin heard this and told his son, “I guess the only way we can avoid the derisive comments of others is to both walk.” 

 

“I suppose you are right,” the son replied.

 

So, they got off the donkey and continued on foot. But as they passed another group of people, they heard them laughing. “Ha, ha, ha,” the group jeered.

 

4. “Look at those two fools. They are so stupid that both of them are walking under this scorching hot sun and neither of them is riding the donkey! What morons!”

 

For children it is in cartoon form as well

https://youtube.com/watch?v=1-hYdihOEqI&feature=share