Right thinking

Is what we think as 'right' changing?

 

The status message of my 14 year old niece reads:

'(is) having the best holiday of her life. Drove the car for the first time! Woohoo!'

 

I must admit that as I typed out the sentence, I did pause for a couple of seconds to wonder if 14 is really such a small age - I mean, its just 4 years to 18, isn't it? You've come more than half way, you might as well. And then I thought otherwise.

 

So is the definition of 'right' and 'wrong' changing?

 

As someone who is obsessively rational about a lot of things in life, I do believe that there is nothing essentially 'right' or 'wrong'. Everything is grey. It is the circumstance and principles or values that we uphold, that differentiate right from wrong. Even so, there are some things that I hold as fundamentals and very close to my heart and mind. Those few things can never change. They are etched in my mind in bold print, in no specific colour. Shouldn't there be a fundamental base for all of us - or what are we heading towards?

 

A practice noticed only in advanced western countries and practically unheard of in India is the customer holding the right to return his purchases, if not satisfied, within the period specified. I am aware of some of my girl friends here in London who purchase an outfit/ensemble for a special night out and return it the very next day, quoting fitting and/or matching issues or just plain dissatisfaction with the product. The customer reserves the right to return and claim the money back. However, what about ethics? Civic sense? What if it happens to us? Can you dream of wearing something already lathered with someone's sweat or is this piece nauseating enough?

 

When we think of 'right' or 'wrong', do we give into an easy temporary harmless temptation? Such as letting our 14 year old try out the car? What are the characteristics of a 'right'?