15 March 1958
“Peace on earth, goodwill to men.”
Often, a man will do a favor for someone and appear the most selfless, most unselfish of persons. Care must be exercised in the evaluation of selflessness and unselfishness. Are outward appearances what they seem to be?
I’ve been reading the P. D. this a.m. – Russian sub hunt; a bill to pass earnings of millions for life insurance companies, with an “unselfish” two package deal to cut income and excise taxes, and a Lenten Guideposts – “Bolton Bishops Turn Fun to Christian Use”.
Selflessness and unselfishness can often be no more than a pose of the same underneath, knowingly or unknowingly, it can be masked selfishness with no basic truth or integrity.
What do I mean?
Example:
An election is coming up. A politician kisses babies, is concerned and fights for the correction of his Bailey wicks’ ills and troubles. He unselfishly expenses energy for the community. Everyone is impressed with his selflessness. He is voted in.
If he continues in office still fighting hard, he may be truly unselfish and dedicated. If, however, once in office he rationalizes, makes excuses to his community, revels in the political prestige she has, plays with some local powers that be, who wouldn’t give him a second glance if they were not united to the same meeting he was invited to, this man is anything but what he pretends to be originally. He is then interested in John Doe, himself, politician and egomaniac. He has no basic honesty or integrity.
To do good for personal gain or advantage is not as worthy as to do good – period!!!
Maybe it is hard to know oneself. One must be on instant guard to search out basic motivations if one’s interest is in a search for truth and goodness.
