Via deeds, not words!

In our society, like in other societies, there are many negative practices which we encounter on a daily basis.

We analyse and dissect such practices in order to shed light on them, address them, zero them out, or confine them within the narrowest of boundaries, in order to become the society we aspire to be: A society of values and ethics.

In this context, we continually remind that our society, historically, geographically, culturally and in terms of values, is one of the oldest and grandest global societies, if not the oldest and grandest. Therefore, our hope is for it to be at the forefront of societies the world over in all positive indicators, and not merely aspiring to be like others, or falling in second place.

Our hope, in fact, is for our society to be an example to others, a role model, and not for us to imitate or emulate other societies, as some would have us believe.

Sometimes, this latter fundamental premise escapes us, alas, in the heat of our daily struggle against numerous problems and obstacles.

Achieving such a goal, i.e. being the role model and at the forefront, can only happen when we eliminate problems, mishaps and failures.

And this is something we should always keep in mind and act on.

Simultaneously, we should remember that there are so many pros and positive practices in our society, which we should be grateful for.

And these pros and positive traits are, to use a banking metaphor, our real assets, ones that continually supply our “current,” “savings”  and “deposit” accounts, and overall profit.

What is required of us at this level, just as we do with the cons and negative practices, is to shed light on the pros and positive practices, nourish them, build upon them, maximise them, and expand their scope.

And such pros and positive practices are widespread in our society.

They are clearly epitomised in ties, relations, and conduct within our families, in public and private institutions, in neighbourhoods, and in so many other public and private spheres.

They manifest themselves in numerous acts of kindness, some of which are noticeable, while others are not, because beautiful and noble acts are inherently humble and shy, and they generally avoid the limelight.

They are numerous and arise from our heritage, which several segments of our society, both young and old, still hold onto firmly.

We see them in those individuals who put others before themselves, who think of giving before taking, who assume good intentions in others and find excuses for them, who defend them in their absence, who guard their tongues against gossip and backbiting, who enumerate the virtues of others and take pride in their accomplishments, who forgive those who make mistakes and pardon those who do wrong, who work silently and perform behind the scenes, who listen more than they speak, who prioritise action over words, who believe in the common good and translate it into their actions, who remove obstacles from the path, who scrutinise everything they hear, read, and see, subjecting it to the authority of the mind, who work to resolve misunderstandings and conflicts, who show trust in the abilities of others, who facilitate and make the tasks of others easier to achieve, who value teamwork and appreciate others, who transcend selfishness and narrow interests, who take the initiative to do good, who align themselves with truth, logic, knowledge, study, and research in the face of rumour and sweeping generalisations, who dedicate their time to beneficial work, innovation, and creativity, who deliver achievements and avoid belittling and deriding others, who make it a point to bring happiness to others, who contribute to a culture of positivity, and so on.

There are so many good values, ethics and practices which are deeply rooted in our society, and embodied in the private and public conduct of so many noble individuals.

And the field is open for everyone to contribute in this dimension: There are no restrictions or limitations on positive action.

Furthermore, and this should be obvious to all of us: The most effective or successful way to combat negative behaviour is to adopt and replace it with positive behaviour.

And the best way to bring this about is via deeds, and not words.