We Don't Live On An Island

Yesterday we spoke about accountability. Continuing the thought....

Something that bothers me. People [I refer specifically to "our" people] sometimes commit crimes and they get caught and are punished. But there is more..... Their families suffer. They suffer greatly. Do they think of this in their greed?

There is a girl in my daughter's class whose [bearded, peyosed] father is going to the slammer for a few years. I don't know if he is really guilty. I wasn't there and didn't follow the case. But a general comment: When someone IS guilty it is a scandal that a person commits crime and afflicts suffering upon his innocent family members.

There is a well known institution [everyone reading this either went there or has family members who did] that is going through terrible financial difficulties and is under the threat of closing. One explanation given for some of the problems is that many years back two of the teachers abused the students and due to the terrible press after the story broke last year, there are having trouble raising money. I don't know if that is really the reason. But this I know - the actions of two people 30 years back can bring a whole institution down.

Even for us more simple people who don't steal government funds or accept or offer bribes, there is a lesson. Our actions affect others. We don't live on an island.