All others, unlike me, would like to please others. No matter how wrong it is or how much does it deviate from their opinions, their intentions are to please those who are good to them. I wonder, how can you not be honest at least to those who are nice to you?? May be it is something beyond my knowledge and I am never going to understand.
Before getting in to the actual scenario, let me give my honest opinion on them. Oh, no! When I say honest I'm going to be impolite. So please excuse, let me move on to the scenario itself.
Along with one of them I was traveling to Wal-mart by taxi. The taxi driver was an American. He met all criteria to be an American: accent, polite, friendly, and most importantly obese. I would like to clarify here that I am not someone who makes fun of obesity.
On our way, the driver was engaging us in a lively conversation on our whereabouts. He suddenly said "I think there are no fat people in India; all are like you; slim and fit; I have never seen a fat Indian". One could sense at that time that he really means what he says. It may be because of the fact that he couldn't be one.
My good Indian colleague stepped in to his rescue. Trying to be polite to the American, he said, "it's a sign of wealth". By "it" he meant "obesity". The driver vaguely agreed with him. I was puzzled. What? May be, Obesity is a sign of wealth in planet-X. Why would anyone make a comment that is least suited during the economic crisis? Instead of being nice and polite now you are indirectly making fun of his wealth during the crisis.
Trying to step down the issue, I wanted to be honest and of course impolite by pointing the root cause. I said, "No... may be it's a sign of McDonald's". The driver understood and accepted the comment I made. He started laughing and said twice.. "huh, it's a sign of McDonald's". He couldn't cease his laughter until we got down.
Soon after we are in to Wal-mart's, my polite friend came to me and murmured. You know, everyone knows it's a sign of McDonald's but you shouldn't have been rude to him by saying it. He was so nice to us. I replied him, it was my honest opinion and I should be honest to those who are nice to me.
The news spread to my other "polite" Indian colleague. I was told by him that even a joke must be politically sensible and my comment wasn't. I stand by my comment. No honest opinion is politically sensible or correct. If you know or find a politically sensible yet honest opinion, please do let me know.
Until then I go with Mark Twain's quote,
"It's no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense."
5 comments:
Even in our family gettogethers/ Friends party/marriages/.., we will see people pleasing each other while enquiring.. hru..(bla bla bla....and somehow...) "hey how did u put on/down weight" isnt it..
(One of them might say... its all sign of being happy/wealth etc... )
So .. Its all casual talks .. Take it easy.... :)
It was really courageous of u put in ur comment that way! :) I can imagine how the driver would have reacted. he would have been taken back at the moment he heard u! But apart from fun, being honesty does not fit for all sutivations. I don't know about giving a honest opinion in work place, but when it comes to family, you will have to accept any good comments and opinions even if the concerned person clearly knows it is bullshit! Not everything u think can be spoken out.
I agree with you partly.
"Not everything u think can be spoken out".. in that case why should we think at all?
The driver had taken it pretty cool. He was an easy going guy. In fact I judged him before I commented and made sure that he wouldn't be humiliated. In fact I thought before and hence gave my honest opinion :-D
"in that case why should we think at all? "
Thinking is an involuntary action. but speaking is voluntary. u can always choose if u need to speak out things!
I like the way u end all your posts,In style!And i am impressed by that repartee!:)
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