What Would You Do?

There is a show on ABC Television in the U.S., ‘What Would You Do?’

In case you haven’t seen at least one episode, here is the link: http://abcnews.go.com/WhatWouldYouDo/

The Setup: In this reality show, the TV crew sets up a scenario in a public place, such as a restaurant or street, in which an actor pretends as though he/she is verbally abusing another actor. By means of hidden cameras, the crew records reaction of real customers or passers by.

Two distinct groups: In this show, we encounter two groups of people: The first group is made up of indifferent people who just walk away showing no reaction whatsoever. When asked, “Why did you not do anything?” they gave one lame excuse after another for their indifference or cowardice.

The second group is made up of people who, righteously indignant over the abuse going on right before their eyes, jump in to protect the victims and take the abusers to task. At this point the Anchorman reveals himself to these brave people and asks them, “Why did you do it?” If you listen to these people’s explanations, you would be moved to tears, unless of course you have no social conscience whatsoever.

It is these people who make America a great country. These are exceptional people whose actions are driven by righteous indignation against all injustice. They believed in what I call, ‘Natural Justice.’ Every one of them said that what they did was the right thing to do.  

We have a choice: The point I make here is, we could choose to be exceptional people, or just be indifferent to whatever injustice is going on around us. It is said by the wise, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

It has been my unfortunate experience that good men, who do nothing when bad men are committing bad deeds, usually end up being good for nothing.

Support good men: If you cannot do anything exceptional, at least, support those who are doing good deeds. Several people were reported to have said something like, “If there are ten people like him, India would be different.” Yet, none offered to pay even 25 rupees as annual subscription for my newspaper. Of 100,000 people in Udupi, who knew and admired the movement, 125 people showed their exceptional character by offering unsolicited help for a good cause.

See God in people: There are pious people in India who spend a lot of money on Poojas, Yajnas and hypocritical holy men, desiring this or that thing. What they do not seem to know is that the only reason to worship God is to be God-like: To acquire great attributes such as boldness, steadiness, righteousness, intolerance for injustice, generosity, love of humanity and empathy for other people’s suffering. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna explained the reason for his birth here on earth, “For the protection of the good and destruction of the bad.” Those who worship God should adhere to this ideal and act accordingly. All the money spent on the fruitless and mindless rituals is a total waste without one inculcating these virtues.

This life is but once. We have a choice of leading lives concerned only about our income, our children, our jobs, our house, our cars, and the like. As long as our needs are met, let the world be damned. We have a choice of being exceptional people or just princes of mediocrity.