Ethics: June 2022 Current Affairs | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

“Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength”

What does this quotation mean to you in the present context: “Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.”

we generally consider power as the weapon of the strong. that is, to the extent that one can dominate others, is the extent to which he or she is powerful. but this understanding of power has been shown to be inadequate and even misleading by the likes of none other than Gandhiji, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther king. for Gandhiji, non-violence is the weapon of the strong.

Whenever any situation of conflict arises, we have 2 options- either to lash out in anger and emotions or to be cool and compassionate and try to work around the issue. In the contemporary context, the perception is such that the former response is often seen as macho, assertive and desirable while the latter is dismissed as being timid and weak. But before arriving at such premature conclusions, we must pause and ask ourselves the utility of a belligerent response and if we really need it. 9/10 times, we'd find that a balanced, tolerant and sensitive approach works much better.

This not only makes our reaction much more measured and mature, but it often also makes the other person realize their folly. As Gandhi famously said- "If someone slaps you on one cheek, present him the other one too".

Not only in personal matters, but tolerance is important for present Indian society as well. In times when xenophobia and mutual distrust are taking root and values of 'unity in diversity and 'vasudhaika kutumbkum' are eroding, tolerance and compassion should become a way of life. This will act as a glue to hold the society together. Amnesty and mercy can only be granted who is strong, the weak can never forgive. Therefore, compassion and tolerance are virtues of strength.

More than the ability to do harm to others, for Gandhiji the strong was identified by his compassion and tolerance for the sinner and evildoer. it requires great moral capital to love one who hates you, to be tolerant towards the intolerant, to show compassion towards the hateful.

to show compassion towards compassionate beings is not very extraordinary, to show tolerance towards the tolerant is likewise. rather, it is our capacity to go beyond the breaking point, and still not break that shows our strength. to be hated and still not to hate, to be looked down and still not to look down, to be hurt and still not to hurt, should be the gold standard.

Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life in prison fighting an unjust regime, and yet when he came out, he embraced those same people as one of his own. and what a beautiful smell he has left behind!

Case Studies for Practice

Case Study 1 

Ramesh, once a struggling theatre artist was accused and later freed from rape charges, which the jury found out to be ill conceived and wrongly targeted. Not able to handle the situation, he changed profession and moved on. Many years later, while his closest friends know about the incident, his co-workers do not. One day, out of curiosity, he surfs his personal records on the internet, and to his surprise, finds that the results reflect an old report in a local newspaper about the rape charges he faced.

Ramesh is upset; after all these years, he would like to be able to disclose the event only to whomever he wants. He has been informed about the decision of the European Court of Justice, which allows individuals to submit requests to a search engine to remove certain results from searches on their names, and citing the same, requests the search engine and media outlet to remove the results.

Valid arguments can be advanced for making the ‘Right to be Forgotten’ a fundamental right? What those arguments could be? What limitations, if any, can it be subjected to? Should there be any obligations on the search engines regarding cases, which are no longer relevant, as the one mentioned above?

Solution

The issues involved in the above case are:

• The right to a life with dignity of an individual who has been absolved of all the charges in the past.
• The responsibility of INTERNET search engines to present unbiased information even of past events while not infringing the right to privacy of an individual.
• Fear of Ramesh to be dragged into his past on disclosure of facts through INTERNET and his right to be forgotten.
• The application of extra-territorial laws in India.
• The tendency in Indian society to stereotype individuals based on distorted facts or through misinterpretation of facts.
• Based on the above mentioned issues, arguments can be presented to make Right to be forgotten a fundamental right. However, infringement of fundamentals right rests on actions by individuals or by the state. Thus, no action can be taken for stereotyping, hatred or biasness. Also for legal recording and for administrative purposes in future, records of settled cases must remain in the public domain. Further people under Right to Information can easily extract such information when they require to do so. Thus internet can't be barred from providing information. However, in settled cases, they can add this information along with related data so that anyone who surfs for the information must have full information on any incident. But in his private capacity Ramesh can apply to the government for making the above changes with respect to page authors or search engines.

Case Study 2

You are the officer in charge of a refugee settlement team in a multilateral humanitarian organization. There is an ethnic conflict in the nearby border area and as a result, many people are affected and displaced. The economically better-off neighbouring countries have accommodated the streams of migrants with financial support from your organization. The violence in the region has increased recently and the influx of people seeking refuge has grown exponentially. With countries following protectionist policies the refugees are left in a vulnerable situation. You are asked to represent the organization for the settlement of refugees with neighbouring countries, who also happen to be a powerful economic bloc. However, they refuse any more accommodation on the following grounds:

• Drainage of resources in face of subdued economic conditions.
• Domestic political repercussions.
• Rehabilitation will encourage more influx.
• Permanency of settlement in face of better prospects than at home.

What are the counter-arguments that can be cited to convince the countries for an immediate solution? Suggest some long term measures as well that could be followed to address the problem.

Solution

As an officer overseeing refugee settlement related issues in a multilateral organisation, my immediate responsibility is to ensure a safe haven for all refugees and also ensure that they have access to basic needs i.e. food, clothing, shelter and also medical aid.

In face of stiff opposition or reluctance by the countries to accept the immigrant refugees I would propose the following:

• Continued financial support from the multinational organisation in resettlement and rehabilitation of the refugees.
• Being economically powerful they can absorb temporary economic shocks while continuing to fulfill their role as a responsible nation.
• Utilize the inflow of refugees as cheap labour by providing them training and thus reap economic benefits of cheap labour.
• By refusing to accept refugees, they will be possibly presented in a bad light in the world by humanitarian organisations and civil activists. Economic factors like international trade is also based on perception and credibility of sovereign nations. Thus, in the long run their international relations might get affected.
• Assure them that the problem is only temporary and in the future following the restoration of peace the refugees will return to their homeland.

Cite examples of other nations who are also rehabilitating refugees.

The problem though triggered by an immediate crisis, i.e., ethnic conflict, demands long-term solutions as it involves cost of life and livelihood, displacement and associated social tension, fragmentation and also inter-generational consequences. I would suggest certain long-term measures as:

• Peacefully explore the permanent safe havens in other yet developing/Island nations with financial support from the organisation.
• Explore the possibility of settling refugees in areas unaffected by the civil war (in the same country) so that on the restoration of peace they can be resettled back.
• negotiations with countries like Japan (with a predominant ageing population) to accept some refugees. They can also provide work visa for 10-15 years and also provide Starting employment in the short term.
• Support the country facing the ethnic conflict in its rehabilitation and resettlement efforts.
• Highlight the refugee's issue at global forums, i.e., at the United Nations and seek assistance.
• Use the internet and print media to raise awareness about the pitiable conditions of the refugees.