The strength of our institutions in any nation determine the long-term health of that nation. While there are many different types of people working within institutions and lots of different perspectives the institution itself should always align around their stated purpose and the long term needs of society. If there are instances where that doesn't happen it does provide room for improvement. When it does happen we should applaud its outcomes.
Let me give you a hypothetical example for learning purposes only. A group coordinated clan members and associated officials began to target a family (race and religion are not important but only that they are out-group members). Violence and threats of violence with open displays for hate toward the victim's religion were stated and acted upon and enriched off. Due to their unique association with officials, who were entrusted with power, they were able to manipulate that trust to further the clan's goals. A review found that there were other victims and a lack of accountability spanning years. Checks and balances were weak or non existent.
Its actually not about punishment in so much as it is about correction and ensuring systems are managed for all of society and not for specific races, religions or politics. Certainly a lack of correction would reflect negatively on the institution and that would indicate that for one reason or another there is misalignment of members internal values with the institution's purpose. Thus integrity is important because a decline in institutional trust has many paths and outcomes if experienced on a collective level.
Because it is an example one cannot say whether justice or lack of justice will prevail and that isn't the point. You may already know what the likely outcome is going to be based on history of such systems and collective conscious and moral conscious but there is nothing in life that is absolutely definitive. No matter what the outcome it will have a positive or negative influence on society through "proof in pudding" actualization. Systems run well will contribute to society while those that don't will begin to break down society.
If you were the target the best thing you can do, whether positive or negative outcomes are realized (highly subjective of what is positive and negative) occur, is shrug your shoulders, smile and say "thank you". While to most involved in creating the situation it is about winning or loosing but that isn't the essential goal over everyone. People who seek knowledge so they can help society learn from such situations and their outcomes so as to improve the prospects of the next generation. All leaders within and outside institutions have a responsibility to make these institutions the best functioning systems they can and use society's resources wisely and with integrity.
The end result isn't the proof. No need to pick a side or be upset. Its not about you. Embrace higher concept called Charis (The Greek version).
"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all" and "I cannot teach anybody anything I can only make them think". Socrates
You may want to read this piece on Institutions and Strength in the Economics & Philosophy Journal
No comments:
Post a Comment