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Innocent or ethical positions?

We live in a world where increasingly, the line between good and bad is becoming thinner and thinner and has almost disappeared. Lies are commonplace. Not only are we forced to lie but are often times expected to lie as truth embarrasses people and for us to move forward amicably it is expected that a 'white' lie would be used. At such a time when you hear of someone's honesty and integrity, it may even sound naive but nevertheless it does come like a breath of fresh air. 

Spoke to someone recently who works in academia and has a very respected place in his field. He narrated a story to us which I will narrate to you. He was invited by another university for a conference to present a paper. A dinner was hosted in his honour and he was shown around the university campus to familiarise him with the life around the university, it seemed almost, in a bid to convince him to consider moving. Then, the head of the department invited him to his room and told him clearly that the department had resolved that they wanted him! Just like that! Then the head took a paper and wrote a figure, much higher than what he was getting at the time and looked at him, the professor was speechless, the head assumed his silence for dissatisfaction and increased the figure, looked up and increased it further, did it a couple of times until it reached a figure which was exorbitant by any standards! By this time, the professor had found his voice and told the head, most humbly, that he felt that he was at an age where he could not bear the idea of settling into a new place and not that he did not, but rather, could not move to this university. The head was astonished to hear this! The university tried in different ways over the course of the couple of days he was there to convince him to change his mind, even showed him a flat which they would give him, overlooking the river- a much sought out place!

When he returned home, news and fears that he was planning to take up the offer had reached his own university. In fact, the very next day he was requested by the dean of the department to come and see him. As soon as the dean raised his fears and the department's desire to keep him the professor told him in no uncertain terms that yes, he had been offered a position but he was not going to take it and he had no reason nor any desire to leave! Just like that! The university did, however, revise his salary package without any prompting or threats from him. 

What amazes me from this story? The professor did not become a commodity! He did not let anyone use him like a commodity that could be bought and sold in the open market. He was certain that he did not want to move for his own reasons and he did not exploit the situation to his advantage. In the worldly (the world that we have unfortunately created out of our uncontrollable desires) scheme of things he seems naive but where it truly counts he held on to his integrity and honour!

It is not shameful any more to crib about our low pay and limited perks and we quite proudly boost of how intelligently we used the situation to our advantage and struck a good deal but so rare to take this kind of a position. You hardly hear it anymore but so refreshing to know that people still take these kind of ethical stances!

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