Ingenuity and Discretion

We are complex creatures. We make complex things. And thats good. To this day, I still marvel at how the first person discovered the solar system - I mean how could something like that occur to a human mind? And inventions like TV that brings live pictures from around the world are simply beyond my comprehension. Yeah, its electronics and signals now, but the ability to take these certain basic elements and intricately tie them up into things that are useful or entertaining.

Ingenuity is great, but only when accompanied by discretion. The former we have in abundance, and the latter is conspicuously absent. So we start making things complex. Innovate in areas where there is no need. What purpose does a lie serve? Yeah, it saves pain in the short run, but the truth will come back reinvigorated to bite all involved in the backside. So it goes without saying that a lie must be used on the rarest of occasions. Yet, it is often the truth that makes the rare appearance. And we have gone on to invent a variety of complex communication mechanisms that make it impossible to decipher the real message. Euphemisms, for example, though they are the most benign of the lot. The English language lends itself beautifully to create sentences that say something, but not mean it at all. We seem to say something, but are not saying anything at all, and even if we did, it would not have meant anything, but if we dont say that something which doesn't mean anything, we are assumed to be saying something else, which would mean something else altogether.

As an unfortunate consequence, we have reached the stage of not recognizing or processing truth. It ruffles our sensibilities and screws up our brains. Thats not the sad part. Because we are unable to digest it, we must not be fed the truth. Are the attacks in Australia racially motivated? Did the center meddle to keep Pak players out of IPL? Are we completely innocent when it comes to the terrorism situation in Kashmir? Should migration to Mumbai be limited? The acceptable response is that there is no right answer. It's more like we are incapable of handling the right answers.