One D Maharaj writes to the Newsday.
Panday’s laptop
Sunday, April 6 2008
THE EDITOR: To all the commentators who are insisting that Mr Panday follow the rules one must simply ask of them: Is the rule fair and justified?
One must recall the courage of Ms Rosa Parks in not giving up her seat in the bus and moving to the back when it was the unwritten rule and expected behaviour at the time. Ms Parks’ action ignited a social revolution in the great United States which despite its Constitution saying “all men are created equal” practised a discriminatory policy towards non-whites.
One needs to ponder on the words of Dr Martin Luther King when he states: “The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict. The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people, but the silence over that by the good people.”
D MAHARAJ
Toronto
Note: The misspelling is his.
The goodly gentleman is pontificating that if a rule is fair and justified, then that is the only time to obey it. What utter crap! Clearly from this letter and earlier ones, D Maharaj is one who reacts before thinking.
Let's look at his argument.
Rosa Parks (his example) broke an unwritten rule and expected behaviour. Unwritten rule isn't the law. Panday broke a written instruction handed down (and quietly and universally accepted by Panday and everyone else). At least until Panday found it inconvenient.
But getting back to rules being 'fair and justified'. By whose standards? What would be the situation if anyone can break a rule citing that they found it unfair? Personally I find it damn unfair that dunceys with 3 O levels can join the police service Does this mean that I can stop the police service from accepting applicants like these?
If I think Maharaj writes drivel, can I force the editor of the Newsday to stop printing them as unjustified?
Whether rules are fair and justified or not, once they form a legal basis, they have to be followed.
Justify yourself, Maharaj. Write a better argument.
