It isn’t always easy to do the right thing. If it was we wouldn’t make a big deal out of it when someone does. Fortunately most people can see truth when it’s in front of them. This quote pretty much says it all. Moral courage. Wow that’s a big one. Some might say we live in a society that rarely rewards moral courage and rarely condemns its lack there of for that matter either. Few people want to get involved in things they feel are not any of their business. Few people will stand up for what’s right and wrong in a marked manner. Few people want to “choose a side” as if somehow that was a bad thing. Some would rather just look the other way. It may be an inconvenient truth for them or worse yet, some may choose a side based on evaluating perceived personal gain and convince themselves their actions and behavior is valid and justified. Sometimes they do choose to get involved (hopefully from a place of goodness) and stand up for what’s right. Sometimes it’s after the fact, leaving one to think, gee that might’ve really been helpful information to me a while ago. However, even delivered late it can still be meaningful, appreciated and of great value for clarification and discernment. It’s one thing to do that when it truly isn’t any of your business, but to do that when it’s someone close to you, well, that is a bit more complicated and with complex ramifications. It’s impossible to play both sides of a field at one time. Herein lies the struggle of remaining “neutral” as people often like to say. As if that is somehow an admirable quality. Ignoring reprehensible behavior without accountability for actions, is thereby condoning the behavior. The real admiration goes to those who have the moral courage to do and say something when it’s clearly, absolutely abhorrent and not pretend something is acceptable when it isn’t, or even worse pretend it didn’t actually occur altogether. That’s why they call it courage. It isn’t always easy, but it’s always the right thing to do.
The Last Chardonnay 