compassion, education, leadership, pairadimes, Social Responsibility

Inaction is action

Written by David Truss 2 Comments

Someone I know has a child in elementary school. That child came home and complained,

“It’s no fair!”

“What’s not fair?” Her mother asks.

“We were lined up to go to the computer lab and two boys were noisy so we didn’t go.”

“What did you do instead?”

“Extra math sheets.”

And what was done about this? Nothing. No parent complaint or questions of concerns. And so, it happened at least one other time after that. It will probably happen again.

Obviously it is ok that computers are a reward. Obviously Math makes suitable punishment. Obviously I’m being sarcastic.

So often we are measured by what we do, but seldom by what we do not do.

Have you challenged yourself this year? Have you gone to the hard places when you needed to? Have you reflected deeply? Have you written thoughtfully? Have you commented meaningfully? Have you inspired a desire to learn?

Does your inaction reflect who you are or who you’d rather not be?

– – – – –

“First They Came for the Jews”

By Pastor Niemoller

First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.

2 comments on “Inaction is action”

  1. T?n? koe David

    An interesting post topic and one that I’ve often mused about and debated. You can add to your list the colleagues who attend the meeting who agree with you and don’t support your point until afterwards when they say “I don’t disagree with you – I support what you said”. Hmmm.

    Ashleigh Brilliant has a beaut one liner “I waited and waited and when no message came I knew it must have been from you.”

    We live in an age dominated by television – a most unparticipatory means of communication. It’s been said that TV is responsible for audiences not knowing when and how to show their appreciation when attending concerts and other public entertainment.

    Pastor Niemoller’s words are as wise as John Donne’s, “Do not ask for whom the bell tolls . . .”

    Ka kite
    from Middle-earth

  2. Action or no action is subjective to one’s situation at that point in time.
    Being able to decide what is proper and improper is still a better skill that we need to master. It is not simple, though, but no excuse.
    I like your post as it cause me to reflect on this issue..

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