Vijaya Dashami is commemorates the victory of Good over Evil; of the saintly Rama over the evil Ravana. But I was never comfortable with that interpretation of the epic battle.
Rama sprouted the moral code when it came to others, but he was not above breaking them; Ravana often conducted himself with more honour than Lord Rama. As I saw it, in that particular battle, good and evil were labels reserved for the victor and the vanquished.
But on Vijaya Dashami, I do hope for the victory of Good over Evil. Of common-sense and basic humanity over inefficiency and corruption.
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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.
22 comments:
Hi Rayna, it was a pleasant surprise to have you stop by a few days ago. I'm doing well. I'm a believer that when all is said in done good wins. Have a great week!
I agree with common-sense and basic humanity over inefficiency and corruption. Things would be better.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
If everyone loved each other no matter what race, religion, skin color, or age, the world would be a safer place for our children.
CD
A lot has to come down to the thoughts of the heart. Intent. Motivation. Not necessarily making mistakes along the way.
Stephen Tremp
Rayna - How often it is that those who speak sanctimoniously and hold others to a certain code are not all that ethical themselves... You bring up an important thing to think about, and I, too, hope for the victory of what is right over what is damaging and wrong. Wonderful post!
@ Wanda- I do like to believe that. But sometimes things are so irrational, you wonder. And you have a great week too.
@ Mason- wouldn't it? What amazes me is why the powers to be fail to see that. Or is that why they are the powers that be.
@ Clarissa- if we left it to our kids, that world may not be a dream one, but don't we love dragging our kids down to our level?
@ Stephen- so very true.
@ Margot- precisely. It is the double standards that I have issues with.
It is actually fortunate that is not just about the heart-- that it doesn't require love to make us good people. There are many people that I run across each day in my work life that are simply not very nice that I am polite to- not because I love them or even have compassion for. I often don't. But I am a humanist and I believe that treating someone with dignity is the right thing to do and I believe that in doing so I honor myself (that does not mean I believe in letting them walk all over me- I am no martyr or saint!). I believe that if more people acted out of humanism rather than a religious "morality" or code the world would be a better place. The religious models are often hypocritical just like Rama and Ravana. As always, (well since I discovered it!lol) I appreciate your blog!
Thanks for stopping by today. I appreciated your comment!
you? Coals? Never!!! :D
I bet you're right--that's often the way these old stories go. The loser = evil. So I'll go w/your chosen interpretation. Hooray for the *real* good~ :o) <3
Soul sister- I agree with every word you've written in both posts.
The biggest statement in the 2008 post that struck me was how things would be judged differently had the other side won. I often think about this as I ponder what is written in the textbooks of my children and children around the world. But I also hope that we wouldn't all be vaunting Hitler's "accomplishments" had he won the war. Where is the line?
I hope it's a bit like obscenity as defined by the US Supreme Court: can't define it, but know it when I see it.
Michele
SouthernCityMysteries
There is pure good and true evil, but when it comes to people and life, often the lines are blurred. I think many fall into the trap of good intentions but wrong actions, which often negates the good.
I like Michele's assessment!
The lines between good and evil are so blurred that I honestly don't believe the extremes of either actually exist in real life.
I love how in this day and age we can marvel at our epic tales and still call them into question. I'm sure that is how they were originally conceived by their brilliant original authors.
B
@ Danette- so true. When you are being decent, you are doing it as much for yourself as you are for them. If I am intentionally rude to someone, I carry the guilt with me for awhile, and it is just not worth it. Love is all very well, but what is really needed is decency.
And I love your blog.
@ Leigh- you will be surprised how many people react without reading. If someone doesn't agree with me, I am more than happy to debate with them, but what I do not like are people saying, "you are wrong, because I say so."
@ Dipali- thank you. The first piece was written soon after my son's first RamLila, where he was supposed to say "Evil King Ravana", and I refused to let him do so. I still maintain that I was right in letting my three year old decide for himself what was right and wrong.
@ Michele- so true. I would hate to think we would be revering Hitler's accomplishments, but again, the length of time for which (uneasy?) peace prevailed would determine how history looks at it. If in 15 years, Hilter was overthrown, all his "accomplishments" would have been re-written. And if he did manage to accomplish what he set out to do, then "his" people would want only one history.
It is a hard one, isn't it?
@ Alex- so true. When it comes to people, there is never black or white- it is always various shades of grey. Unless you are Lord Voldermort, perhaps.
I personally think good intentions but wrong actions is forgivable. What I dislike are double standards.
@ Diane- brilliant, isn't it?
@ Melissa- maybe in children's books, but not in real life. NObody can be all good or all evil.
@ Holly- thank you
@ Barbara- those people were brilliant. Positively brilliant. Their stories are relevant even a couple of thousand years after they were written- can anything be better?
@ Danette- so true. When you are being decent, you are doing it as much for yourself as you are for them. If I am intentionally rude to someone, I carry the guilt with me for awhile, and it is just not worth it. Love is all very well, but what is really needed is decency.
And I love your blog.
@ Leigh- you will be surprised how many people react without reading. If someone doesn't agree with me, I am more than happy to debate with them, but what I do not like are people saying, "you are wrong, because I say so."
@ Dipali- thank you. The first piece was written soon after my son's first RamLila, where he was supposed to say "Evil King Ravana", and I refused to let him do so. I still maintain that I was right in letting my three year old decide for himself what was right and wrong.
@ Michele- so true. I would hate to think we would be revering Hitler's accomplishments, but again, the length of time for which (uneasy?) peace prevailed would determine how history looks at it. If in 15 years, Hilter was overthrown, all his "accomplishments" would have been re-written. And if he did manage to accomplish what he set out to do, then "his" people would want only one history.
It is a hard one, isn't it?
@ Alex- so true. When it comes to people, there is never black or white- it is always various shades of grey. Unless you are Lord Voldermort, perhaps.
I personally think good intentions but wrong actions is forgivable. What I dislike are double standards.
@ Diane- brilliant, isn't it?
@ Melissa- maybe in children's books, but not in real life. NObody can be all good or all evil.
@ Holly- thank you
@ Barbara- those people were brilliant. Positively brilliant. Their stories are relevant even a couple of thousand years after they were written- can anything be better?
I don't think that there is absolute good and evil - the lines are blurred and often open to different interpretations depending on time, culture, norms and so on.
I heartily agree with your thought-provoking post.
There is also unintended consequences of good intentions. Is that evil? So many have such good intentions...it just doesn't work out. And to some, the results are evil. Sigh!
Life gets complicated!!
Great post!!
Hugs
SueAnn
@ Fiona - some things are definitely good, and some are evil, but many are subject to interpretation (and misinterpretation). And people are definitely not good or bad- they are just people.
@ SueAnn- it is complicated. But I would think that if the intentions are good, even if the result is not, the person is guilty only of stupidity. The people I dislike more are the ones with double standards.
I believe Good and Evil exist. I can't really define them but know them when I see them.
I read your earlier post and loved it. It was incredibly well written. I have to say I agree with you about good and evil.
@ Kittie- they do, don't they? Not Good and Evil people, but definitely good and evil in the absolute.
@ Quinn- thank you.
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