The freedom and ability to criticize
is the lifeblood of the kind of idealistic relationship existing between those
who govern and those we are governed. It
provides the necessary contravening process via which those who govern are
checked and regulated so that they govern wisely and effectively.
But in the realm of godliness
and even just plain-speaking moral good, we ought to be convinced that speaking
truth to power should not be all there is to it, so that after our protestations we can then lay
back self-satisfied in the contentment that we have done everything and all our
level best.
We forget words is but a
segment. The other more critical part is
action.
How do we all and individually
measure up to this?
Forget the grander scale of grandiose
oratory and grandiloquent treatises.
What have we done personally to
justify both to ourselves and sundry that we have done our level best to contribute
to make a difference? However
insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
For this is the strict
criterion upon which our individual lives will be judged – not by mere mortals but
by our all-knowing Judge.
So not by the number of
pleasure-inducing actions we have engaged in, not by the number of glowing
treatises or critiques we have thrusted into the limelight, not by the number of electrifying political rallies we have participated, not by
the number of political campaigns waged,
etc.