Ways to justify something that is morally wrong:

[wtmusic]

1) "In the grand scheme of things it won't make a difference."
2) "I've done the right thing for 25 years, now I'm looking out for me."
3) "The whole system needs to come down and be rebuilt. I'm helping to speed up that process."
4) "I'll do something extra-right later."
5) "I don't care."

An acquaintance is an elementary-school teacher who is nearing retirement. His administration tells to pass all of his students - even though many would fail by grades - so the school can get state money. He's fought them until now, and he justifies his change of heart using all of the above.

What are your faves?

[Deep13]

1. "It's in the Bible." nt

[wtmusic]

2. Even if it's not

Ah yes. :thumbsup:

[Deep13]

3. The problem is usually those claiming it know that book well enough...

...to know that whatever horrible idea they are supporting IS in there. I find people are far more likely to insist things are in the Constitution that are not. For example, people seem to think capitalism is part of the Constitution and it just isn't.

[wtmusic]

9. Anything written down on paper is pretty worthless

when it faces an ideology that is determined and has virtually unlimited support. They call it "interpretation".

When you've seen seemingly watertight contracts broken time after time - successfully - you gain an appreciation for how ultimately all logical systems fail, and all that's left to run the ship is the good will of a few people.

[lame54]

4. "cha-ching"

[wtmusic]

10. Yep - in this case, translates to "pension". nt

[Johonny]

5. Compared to a Republican Senator

These kids are all geniuses.

[seabeyond]

6. i refuse to allow me to do that. i dont allow children, and i want to be honest in

teaching my children so even when i want to, i can hear exactly what you are saying and i dont allow myself.

i also think it is in growing up too.

[wtmusic]

11. Good for you.

I found it very disheartening to be with a person, who otherwise seems so upstanding, and hear those words come out of his mouth.

[seabeyond]

14. exactly. yes. especially someone you respect and/or love. i know what you mean

it seems to be more common today which i think is indicative of our society, than the past. i know it is something i have had to not allow myself to do. i think there is a conditioning in this society in so many ways that is allowing us to do this more and more, where before we would have had the character to not be swayed. hence why i say i have to work/recognize it.

one of the huge things i think the bushco adm gave this country. people have just found it so easy to do.

[gratuitous]

7. "National security"

Which is a cover for either (a) fear mongering the rubes; or (2) their own wet-your-pants fright. Could also be both.

[wtmusic]

12. Yes, fear is one of the worst

or best, depending on your POV

[ThomWV]

8. You can not justify something that is morally wrong, you can rationalize having done it though.

[zbdent]

13. I find the easiest way to justify something that is morally wrong

is to look at how the sheeple justified something when a republican did it ...

See Freetardia ...

[ZombieHorde]

15. No one is perfect, so if I act perfect, I will just be making everyone else look bad. nt

[raccoon]

16. AND THIS, BOYS AND GIRLS, is one of the problems with our schools today.

"His administration tells to pass all of his students - even though many would fail by grades - so the school can get state money."


As long as this kind of stuff goes on, no amount of money you can throw at the schools will prevent high school grads who can't read or do simple math.

(I realize that there are some school districts that are very poor.)

[wtmusic]

17. It is a very poor district

and so his job is a tough one. A lot of broken homes, a lot of drug abuse in students' households, a lot of apathy.

Because failing these kids usually results in them dropping out (eventually), there are all sorts of attendant problems that result. I have no idea what the answer is, but I know it's not rewarding them for doing lousy work.