It’s easy to judge others’ behavior and justify our own. Through all sorts of reasoning, we may end up tolerating a toxic relationship; cheating on our partner; defending environmental values—but only if they don’t affect our comfort; to work for a corrupt company; to prioritize group security and a code of silence—along with a few perks—over the risk of being marginalized, and so on. The immediate benefits to oneself seem to tip the scales more heavily than future consequences or those affecting others. “After me, the deluge” illustrates a form of social disengagement toward those who will outlive us.
We readily accept the idea of our powerlessness and insignificance in world affairs, and this argument is repeated ad nauseam. Yet our power to make a difference is not zero, and it always has an impact if we choose to take action. We then have the choice to ignore the consequences, deny them, hide them, downplay them, attempt to mitigate them, or fully accept them. “Alea jacta est” led Caesar to Rome.
What we do reveals, in part, our intentions, our judgment, our abilities, our competence, and, more broadly, the depth of our understanding of the issues at stake. Certain fields—such as politics, business, or show business—seem particularly prone to missteps, as the effects can be amplified, concentrated, and intense. On this scale, the consequences become difficult to predict and bear for those in positions of power; it is therefore easier for them to have John the Baptist beheaded, to bribe Themis, or to silence all opposition than to acknowledge their own missteps.
Maintaining a position is a sign of power. Maintaining an ethical stance demonstrates integrity, whether individual or collective. The choice generally boils down to remaining loyal to one’s own principles and those of one’s group, or remaining loyal to one’s group even if it has lost its principles. The pressure to give in rarely arises spontaneously; rather, it builds up through a series of gradual compromises that, when simply acknowledged, were nothing less than corrosive attacks. The road to hell is paved with good intentions and bad compromises.
Abandoning one’s principles undermines one’s self-worth—that which has served as a guiding light until now—with destabilizing consequences for both individuals and institutions. The values of the education system oscillate between universality and elitism, between inclusion and segregation, between conformity and creativity, between autonomy and obedience. To what extent can a teacher maintain their integrity without wavering? To what extent can a school administration carry out its mission despite the self-serving interventions of the government?
This summer issue invites you to take the time to reflect on these questions.
Denys Lamontagne
Illustration: Shutterstock - 2633644903
