The Right to know v/s Right to "NO"

The issue:-

It is frequently advisable for those in positions of authority in government to withhold information from the general public.

“With great power comes great responsibility”

This famous line from 'The Spiderman' series could very well refer to those in positions of authority in government, who are required to conduct themselves in an exemplar fashion all the time as they are under constant scrutiny by the public. This responsibility sometimes includes withholding vital information from the general public with the best intentions of safeguarding the interests of the common man. On this account, they face the brickbats on several occasions when their intentions are misconstrued by the very same people they are trying to serve.

“Knowledge is power "- it is often said. In the modern day era of ever-pervading media coverage, access to information is made available to anyone who seeks it. The right to information is inalienable and any attempt to compromise on dissemination of information about the functioning of the government is tantamount to impingement of this inalienable right, for as Abraham Lincoln said the democratic government is
“For the people, by the people and of the people”
The government functions on the tax-payers' money and it is answerable to them in every conceivable way. It is only the autocrats who deny the public the power of knowledge; in fact they thrive on the ignorance of the people. Transparency of the government's functioning is a hallmark of civilized society.

On the other hand, the very nature of some policy decisions demands that they be kept out of reach of the hoi-polloi. The first such example that comes to one's mind is a country's defense policy; making an open book of the country's defense secrets will jeopardize the nation's security; in fact, it would be perfidious and suicidal to do so. The media is often accused, sometimes rightly, of being nosy and trying to leak out vital government secrets and presenting the people with garbled versions of activities of government officials for sheer sensationalism. Everyone is entitled to privacy and there is no reason why the government officials must be denied their professional and personal space.

A generalization is hardly possible in trying to arrive at a consensus on an issue as contentious as the one presented here. It is both the prerogative and the duty of those in positions of authority in the government to exercise caution and discretion in trying to arrive at a balance between keeping the general public informed and safeguarding national secrets. Make no mistake, Spidey was in no tangle when he said this:-

"With great power comes great responsibility"

Change ya no change

A crucial test of character is whether one is able to adapt to changing social conventions without sacrificing one's principles.

'Survival of the fittest'- this principle is the essence of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. The species that have survived to see the light the day, have had to battle drastic changes in climatic conditions, topography and nature of their predators, and have had to constantly evolve to meet newer challenges.

At a microcosmic level, Man has been confronted by changing social conventions, customs and trends. It is often stated -
“The world is revolving so fast that one has to run as fast as one can, just to remain where he is". Clearly, adaptability is the key to survival and any intransigence to change is an invitation to disaster.

However, adaptability does not necessarily mean that one has to move with the masses, like cattle in a herd without any expression of individuality. Progress has been possible throughout history only by challenging existing conventions and dogmas. Had Galileo not stood up to the Catholic Church, we would probably still be wallowing in ignorance about the heliocentric nature of solar system. Great changes in society have been brought about by eradication of ignorance, superstitions through rejection of authority.

Unfortunately, as is evident in the treatment meted out to Jesus Christ, Galileo and other great men, our society has not always been receptive to new ideas and has frowned upon anyone attempting to swim against the tide. This is the where the person attempting a change faces a test of character. Without being an iconoclast, one must hold his ground in the face of the challenges thrown to him. For this to happen, the change in the system must be brought about not by confrontation, but by persuasion and reason from within the system. This is certainly not as roseate as it might sound, and involves constant adaptation to suit the existing norms while also not sacrificing one's principles, something that requires a lot of grit and gumption.

Ultimately, one has to realize that change is the only thing that's constant, and that whatever change is intended is must be for the betterment of the society as a whole. Therefore, one must learn to shed one's ego and research well into the intended change and verify it against existing conventions. On the part of the person intending the change it might sometimes involve rejection of his view-points, but he must ultimately learn to have full faith in his principles and wait for the opportune moment for the change to happen

Spending time alone makes one a better companion to others

In the officious lives we lead today, privacy is a forgotten luxury. One is forced to live his life in the open and the 'herd-tendency' is causing people to blindly ape others around them. Clearly, today people are brought together more due to the fear of being left behind than out of camaraderie. All the turmoil of modern-day strained relationships could be alluded to this lack of genuine warmth among people.

It is often said - "Familiarity breeds contempt". The very fact that we force ourselves into the company of others explains the lack of goodwill among people that cause the eventual fallout we have with our companions. It is therefore imperative to set apart time for ourselves, to give ourselves some space and time for introspection, in order to develop into a better companion to others.

Pursuing fine arts at leisure, listening to music, indulging in one's hobby are some of the activities best done alone, that transport an individual to a different world altogether and relieve him of all frustrations that might otherwise be unwisely vent out on people around him. Reading a good book is a wise investment of time spent alone, as it not only enriches one's knowledge but also can also prove to be a refreshing experience that transforms one into a better person capable of offering guidance to others in need of it and able to appreciate their accomplishments. Sometimes sitting alone doing nothing, reliving a vivid memory, letting one's imagination blossom into creativity can help a person understand and appreciate others around him.

It is said that a true friend must share one's happiness and sorrow equally. But most of us prefer to be left alone either when we are over-whelmed after any great success, or when we grieve some inconsolable bereavement. This clearly tells us that one must guard one's private moments, just as one must learn to respect other people's need for space. Notwithstanding the fact that Man is a social animal, the truth remains that it is always best to look inwards for inspiration. This will help us a better human whose company will be eagerly sought and cherished by others.

The best ideas arise from a passionate interest in commonplace things

Right from Man's discovery of fire to the advent of the present day brain-inspired systems, Man has always looked to nature for inspiration to enrich his life.
A lot of people, when they hear the story about Newton's discovery of gravity when an apple fell in front of him, tend to dismiss it as a case of serendipity. Considering that Newton is one of the greatest scientific minds ever and has several other inventions to his credit, it is obvious that it requires an extraordinary to mind to derive inspiration from what may seem the most obvious of things.

History tells us that some of the greatest works of art, literature and music and inventions had their origins in the most humble of sources. "The Solitary Reaper", a beautiful piece of poetry by Wordsworth is about the poet's observation and admiration for an ordinary farm-worker. The present-day rage, "The Harry Potter Series", began when the author J.K.Rowling started writing stories based on school-life for her son at a nondescript cafe.

These instances strongly reinforce the fact that even the most mundane of things can appear enchanting if one takes a passionate interest in the principle behind it and knows to understand and appreciate it. For, the nature is ever full of surprises; if it appears commonplace to us in spite of its variety it is only because we have taken it for granted. However, enlightened minds have always looked to nature for inspiration, for they know that everything that Man has discovered and will discover will always be a representative of principles inherent in nature.
The most complex organ of the human body, the brain is being studied and researched upon by neuro-scientists to understand its working and to apply the principle behind it increase the MIQ (MACHINE INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT) of the modern day computers. In spite of all the advances in medicine and signal processing, the brain is yet to be demystified fully. This proves that deriving ideas from the things around us is not as easy as it may sound. It requires a craving for knowledge and a deep admiration for the nature.

If a person closes his eyes and makes a conscious effort to listen to the less conspicuous sounds around him, he'll be surprised to note the variety of sounds that permeate the air, but still hardly noticed above the obvious routine ones. Our mind is a lot like a radio-set, there's inspiration all around us; we have to mentally tune ourselves to be able to take it in.

"Winners don't do different things, they just do things differently". A passionate interest in the things around us, the perspicacity to know why things happen the way they do, and receptiveness to ideas arising from these- these are the qualities that separate winners from the rest of Mankind.