The Dilemma of a Mad-Man
- mienspg
- 52 minutes ago
- 5 min read
THE DILEMMA OF A MAD-MAN
A short composition by Gray
25th October 2025
Humour me,
I am a God.
No, not THE GOD,
But a God who is capable of making some changes.
In the pantheons of civilisation Sumerians, Egyptians, Indian, Greek, Roman, Chinese, Incan, Mayan, Native Americans and so on, in the Gods of God before there are the One God and other philosophical beliefs like Confucious and Taoism, I believe the overall idea is guidance to place us (I will use the word, “me”) where we are. Why are we here, placed on this rocky blue planet, to do what exactly and the expectations before we (“I”) pass on.
I lived in an earned life of privilege,
My parents were both Government servants,
As such,
There were few incidents that made me think,
Why?
I remembered the starting – that we are all judged unequal.
At kindergarten until graduating, we were given homework, that was based on given curriculum and syllabus. We are not judged on our passions and inert skills – such as gardening or having a green thumb, the ability to strip an entire engine down to the very last screw and yet able to reassemble the engine back slightly differently but the engine performed even better and respecting others who are not the same as us.
We are placed in a society that is based on control and influence. A political and economical world of Masters which spirals higher and higher, under whose directives?
We toil and slave.
For me, I just enjoy what I do, with a bit of humour and at times tempered with sarcastic wit. Whether I am a top student today or a bottom student the next, it bothers me not. To me, its my journey of life therefore I call it how I wish.
But I have digressed.
So my parents put in 20-40 years of their lives working for the right entities.
On top of studies, here where some incidences others may not have that kind of privilege because, “they didn’t earn it through hard work”?
1. When we had wanted to go to Penang Island, we were stuck in a massive jam. Our car took the side-lane and we were cruising passing all the bumper-to-bumper cars. A patrol car stopped us. An exchange of words, a look at the driving licence. Prompting a salute and we got ourselves an escort. We don’t just stop at the airbase, we went beyond.
2. When I was sick, I don’t take numbers. I went through a back lane where doctors and nurses shared.
3. When I graduated, the then #1 accounting firm’s manageress contacted me asking to come for an interview where she’s the hirer.
These were the examples of my dilemma then as I had pondered, should I have said, this is wrong.
Think of it this way,
When I was poorer, I offered a $10 bribe to a cop (well, he’s not rejecting anyways) to look the other way. But now, whenever I got stopped for infringements like holding on to the handphone (both my holders were not working), I told the cop – handover the ticket to me. He was even kind enough to tell me how I should be going about to settle the full $300 via online instead of going to the Court house.
Given a choice, if I had not offer bribe – would my conscience be better and that of the enforcer of the law? But do I have the economic means to do so then, now and in future?
Students were marginalised because of their race and not because they were good at what they were studying. Whilst the quota system is “fair” but is it right? Are you telling me, that one race is more hopeless than the other? If the students were taught in accordance to like what I earlier mentioned, what they love to do – reverse engineering, contributing to green environment, entrepreneurship, leadership and management or even playing competitive computer games, shouldn’t the education system be changed to suit their “customers”? Or future clients?
If I had been all true and good, I would not have written this.
In all cases, chivalry is all good and nice – had I continued on letting the women and children pass me by, I would have been dead. You would not have known me or let alone read this. You and others may not have benefited through me, had I helped you and may help you in future.
The fact that half my family are of crime and ruffians, one that pulled me through the mass after he himself launched over the barricades, dragging me by the collar – had saved my sorry gentleman’s arse.
Thus, the dilemma here is, when do we do social good and when must we bend the rules?
Bribery is a no-no to me.
In fact, anything related to under the table the money, is a full-stop. Fact also means my clients who knows my background and the association members know that I have my limits which they do not test. Where the lines are drawn, they passed me all the legitimate businesses. The rest, good luck to them.
The weight of dilemma differs situation to situation.
Fact is, I will drop and resign from all – status, money and influence, if I cannot sleep over a matter or leave a bile on my tongue.
I had said “no” to people and protected my source of information even they don’t deserve it. I am not a bloodhound but a mere watchdog.
Whilst I remain apolitical, I side the “good” side. Whatever that means.
Good side, means to me –
If you don’t want a politician to steal from the coffers, give him an honest day salary. After all, he is supposed to be the crème la crème amongst us. The top 1% of 1% in thinking how to solve our situation be it transportation, justice, education, economic, finance and so on.
I totally disagree that a Prime Minister should be driving a Morris Minor just to show he is one with the people. That’s popularism and not inspiring the nation to boost and grow.
And if someone were to work with me, they should be living in a nice affordable place with cars, planes and what not. It’s not flaunting. Its earning and payback for all the good that they have done.
To this end, I develop balanced systems of rewards that gives equal opportunities to all, to excel if they choose to. That systems are supported by education and continual learning that can be replicated from one generation to the next 50th generation.
Should you be interested to learn more, write to me at Gray@samarata.com.my and taipan@samarata.com.my
From
Gray,
Spectre. Just a small God
doing God's work instead of
bothering the One.
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