Who is failing who?
- Why do I need to bribe you?
- Why do I need to know you to get a job in your institution?
- Why are we building houses that collapse and kill us?
- Why are we supporting banks that steal from us to enrich a few?
The answer is simple, moral values
According to Elizabeth D. Scott
(2002) Moral values are those that distinguish between good and evil. They are
not simply assessments of current quality (as in a "good" battery or
"bad" tires) but determinations of fundamental motivation (as in
"good" faith or "malicious" intent). .. moral values are
beliefs about what is good and evil controllable behavior, bearing on relations
to self, to others, to God, and to the natural and animal world. No definitive
list exists; however, there is some agreement that four categories, namely
respect for life, respect for property, honest communication, and respect for
religion, describe important values entailing moral dimensions.
Respect for life
Respect for life includes practising big-heartedness, giving respect and
protecting life
A businessman constructs a residential storey house in Huruma that
collapses and kills over 40 residents. In this situation we are informed that
architectural drawings were not
approved, no license was issued by the County government for the construction
to start. We are also informed that the building was marked as unfit for human
occupation and listed for demolition.
How did the building come up with no permission from the County
government?
Why did we have families living in a building ear marked as unfit and
listed for demolition and nobody raises a finger until the building collapses
and we lose lives?
Our reactive other than proactive nature really saddens me especially
when it comes to human life. People must always die before anything is done
about certain issues. We have lost
numerous lives since the rains started pounding a few months ago. The
authorities expected heavy rains and warned Kenyans of the same. One wonders
what was done to ensure we have no floods in the city ….the reality is that
many Kenyans have lost their lives as a result of the heavy rains and many more
have lost their property.
Who failed us here?
Who is failing who?
Respect for property
Why would I want to take what doesn’t belong to me?
That is stealing!
Why would I want to walk all other my neighbour’s property?
That is trespassing!
Why do I borrow something from you and return it worse off than I took
it?
That disrespect!
Have you ever lent your car to a friend and watched them literally abuse
it and you want to scream ‘bring my car back now!’
I take good care of my car, I am careful to carry a maximum of four
people so that I am easy on the shocks and my car can give me a good ride for a
longer period. I ensure my car is clean
at all times and I line the boot with newspapers when I carry food from the
village as the red soil has a way of staining the mats.
My dear friend, next time you borrow my car, first and foremost, bring
it back on the day we agree, not a day later; two, ensure it has enough fuel to
at least get me to the gas station if only because it had fuel when I gave it
you, three, bring my car back clean on the inside and outside. Last but not
least, if you can’t bring it back yourself and you need to send your son to
return the car, call me and apologise for bringing it late and thank me for the
use of my car.
My friend showed no respect for my car and it pained me!
Honest communication
How often do you walk away from a conversation feeling angry,
disappointed or misunderstood?
How often have you said things you regretted?
How often have you wished for a more open and honest conversation?
We lie without blinking!
Our leaders say one thing today, another tomorrow, and another the
following day, all contradictory and they expect us to listen to them and hold
them in high esteem ….
I have worked very hard over time to ensure that my communication with
my family and especially my children is open and honest. And because of this
kind of openness you get surprise questions from your children like:
Mum if you were to marry again today would you still marry Dad?
Honest communication is difficult for most people.
I lost a friend not so long ago because I told her what I didn’t like
about her…..OK let me be honest here and say that I didn’t have the courage to
face her and therefore sent another friend to tell her that I had issues with
her behaviour. I don’t know what our common friend told her and that’s the part
I regret ( I should have approached her directly) but she blocked my phone and
hasn’t talked to me since.
Did being honest cost me a friend? Yes.
Do I have regrets? Absolutely not!
Respect for religion
The news has highlighted men and women who are posing to be religious
leaders and prophets, false prophets misleading unsuspecting Kenyans and
defrauding them of their meagre resources in the name of divine intervention
Controversial televangelist ‘Prophet’ ‘Dr’ Victor Kanyari of Salvation
Healing Ministry was exposed for performing dubious miracles in late last year.
One such miracle was washing his flock’s feet to bring about
healing. Blood would ‘ooze’ from the
feet after the Pastor’s touch bringing about ‘complete healing’. It turned out
that Pastor Kanyari would have potassium permanganate hidden in his hands and
once he put his hands in the water the water would turn reddish. He then
claimed that his hands have caused the oozing of blood from the feet resulting
in healing. This illusion was reinforced by the testimony of paid individuals
who readily testified that just weeks earlier, they had been healed and fully
recovered from debilitating diseases.
Many unsuspecting men and women attended Pastor Kanyari’s church to get
healing from his ‘holly hands’. This is total disrespect for region.
Why are people like Kanyari still running churches?
Who is supposed to protect us from such unscrupulous people?
Who is failing who?
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