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Why don't good people take a stand against injustice?

Yesterday, I was discussing with my daughters why people keep tolerating mindlessness in public places. A few people don't do the work they are supposed to do, and it affects so many people's lives. A poorly designed road, someone parking on the side of the road and causing a 15-minute traffic jam, a poorly designed website by an organisation, the unresponsiveness of someone in an important position. Why do people tolerate all this?

They responded that, since the beginning, students are asked to be compliant in the classroom. For everything, they have to take permission. That independence of mind is never inculcated. In fact, whenever somebody takes a stand against injustice, people try to make him understand that he should not get into all these things and should concentrate on his career. I agree with them, and the impact of this attitude is quite evident everywhere. The son does not take a stand when his parents ask him to take dowry; employees do not take a stand when their employers ask them to cheat customers; and people at large do not take a stand when they get bad service from big corporates even after paying.

At the same time, we cannot fight many battles at once, so we have to choose our battles wisely. In the midst of the struggle for survival, finances, getting kids admitted to a good school, and manoeuvring in a world full of scamsters, who has the time to fight all these struggles? Personal struggle takes priority over the common struggle, and that's why generally we do lip service to common matters. It is an RWA matter, and the RWA should look into it. Why should I waste my time and energy on that? The RWA also comprises residents, and they get tired of spending their time and energy every day on never-ending matters.

I don't think that anybody can fight the battle for another. We have to fight our own battles. Imperial rule did not free any country by choice. Every country had to fight their own freedom struggle. I feel quite disappointed when I see people who spend 30-35 years in their career and do not stand for what is right. I have seen them retire unceremoniously because, when they didn't stand with the people who were right, nobody stood with them, and not taking a stand became the organisation's culture. I don't see that as a big problem with Duryodhana. He is greedy and openly admits it. But why did Bhishma and Vidura not stop Duryodhana and Dushasana when Draupadi was being insulted in front of them? If Bhishma could fight the battle of Kurukshetra single-handedly for so many days, he could have taken a stand in that Rajyasabha. The biggest cause of any society's fall is good people who do not take a stand. From their silence, Duryodanas gain the courage to keep exploiting others. 

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