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
