Someone has asked: "A person has bribed an officer of another country as part of his duties, and has saved his country from certain shame. Is it acceptable?"
The answer is: we have no moral position on this. Since such examples are but a small minority, we have decided to ignore them in the larger interest.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Question Raised: Is it open to persons from all countries?
The problem of corruption and harassment in government offices is a worldwide problem. And it is a problem of huge dimensions. So any participation is welcome!!
However, because we have just started, we will first concern ourselves with problems that we know first-hand: the problem in India.
Besides, the socio-political situation differs from nation to nation, and trying to provide general solutions could just lead to ineffective solutions. Therefore we would prefer to concentrate on India alone.
However, because we have just started, we will first concern ourselves with problems that we know first-hand: the problem in India.
Besides, the socio-political situation differs from nation to nation, and trying to provide general solutions could just lead to ineffective solutions. Therefore we would prefer to concentrate on India alone.
Question (Not Yet) Raised: Are you taking a high moral stand?
Yes, we are.
Not because we are 100% clean, but because we would like to be.
If someone feels corruption is right, we would respect him/her for this opinion! We would not even try to change such persons to our mode of thinking!
This blog is meant for those who feel that corruption is wrong and evil, irrespective of their being either clean or corrupt themselves.
Not because we are 100% clean, but because we would like to be.
If someone feels corruption is right, we would respect him/her for this opinion! We would not even try to change such persons to our mode of thinking!
This blog is meant for those who feel that corruption is wrong and evil, irrespective of their being either clean or corrupt themselves.
Question (Not Yet) Raised: Why is this blog in English?
We are sorry. We would like to post content in Hindi and other Indian languages, but ...
It is our limitation at this point. We are trying to overcome it.
It is our limitation at this point. We are trying to overcome it.
Question Raised: How do you define corruption?
Now this is a question we were hoping no one would ask. We politely decline to answer this at this time. Right now, we feel we have a fair idea of what corruption is, and trying to weave it into a watertight definition would only be an academic exercise. We feel it is a bit early.
However, if there are definitions that you feel strongly about, send them to us at jeevavetta@gmail.com
But we will not publish them just yet!
However, if there are definitions that you feel strongly about, send them to us at jeevavetta@gmail.com
But we will not publish them just yet!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Question Raised: Isn't participation risky?
If you want to oppose something so strong as a corruption racket, it is obvious. The risks are high. But lok at the risks of not participating.... (Besides being part of corruption is more risk!)
As it is we have reached a stage where many of us have been corrupt in some way or the other, where we have either taken advantage of loopholes in the law or in its implementation...., we have taken advantage of bypassing law when no one was watching.... of ignoring traffic signals, of giving a donation to get a child admitted to school.... of paying a tip to the waiter after having lunch at a restaurant.
The result is we now do not have the moral right to raise our individual voice against corruption. We are afraid of being told "Those who live in glass houses do not throw stones at others' houses".
This is where raising our voice together is important. As a community, we still are not that corrupt. We do not still proudly tell our children that we are corrupt. The risk is that if we do not take personal risks in the safety of a group, we will lose this morality as a community, as a nation. Can we take the risk of losing this collective morality?
As it is we have reached a stage where many of us have been corrupt in some way or the other, where we have either taken advantage of loopholes in the law or in its implementation...., we have taken advantage of bypassing law when no one was watching.... of ignoring traffic signals, of giving a donation to get a child admitted to school.... of paying a tip to the waiter after having lunch at a restaurant.
The result is we now do not have the moral right to raise our individual voice against corruption. We are afraid of being told "Those who live in glass houses do not throw stones at others' houses".
This is where raising our voice together is important. As a community, we still are not that corrupt. We do not still proudly tell our children that we are corrupt. The risk is that if we do not take personal risks in the safety of a group, we will lose this morality as a community, as a nation. Can we take the risk of losing this collective morality?
Question Raised: What about retired employees?
Retired - and current - employees have a special role to play. Whether they have been honest or corrupt, it does not matter. What is important is what they feel about corruption and harassment in government offices. And if they have been corrupt, we would like them to own up, repent and as a compensation, identify (without naming anyone) the ways and means of maintaining channels of corruption.
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