there are some who believe that we ought to be rewarded for what we give; that a chance to proffer one's service is a guarantee of a future's recompense and that every term comes a condition. if we've all been taught to live everyday for no ones but ourselves, we have been great learners so far.
yesterday, i saw a man remove four bottles of green-tea from the fridge to put them in his bag and i have witnessed volunteers marking their attendances for the sake of making their presence known but not felt, for a certificate at the end of it all. everyday, i hear/see/read of individuals grousing about all that have been insufficient and imperfect safely behind the mask of anonymity that the internet grants. i feel them relishing at every mishap and problems that have happened so far with their terrible words.
i hope that the man had been on his way to quench the thirst of other volunteers too caught up in the throes of their duties to make their way to lunch. i hope that all of those that came to leave had more important places to be in and that their certificates of participation will not be a bitter reminder of the things that they've missed out on. i hope that those with their criticism and quibbles will learn to distinguish between journalism and malice and that their words will find more reason and proof. that they will eventually understand that each good name they discredit and vilify will bring down the good name of the country and of us all.
most importantly, i hope that i've been mistaken. a little too clouded by anger to see clearly and perhaps, residual teenage angst to empathize and understand. they may all have reasons for the things they do. but don't we always? how can we distinguish between reasons that justify and excuses that have been clearly mislabeled? it may be pretty pompous to sit up all high-and-mighty on the proverbial moral high horse, but it's only in place in the world where i get to have a lesson in life on things i shouldn't do. to paraphrase a wonderful quote that i've read somewhere- if the only reason you help is so that you can tell people that you've helped, your help is not needed.
