Legally Okay But Ethically Not Okay – Fight Against the Corrupted Systems

“My biggest problem with modernity may lie in the growing separation of the ethical and the legal”
― Nassim Nicholas Taleb, The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms

Writing sometimes becomes a nerve-racking experience, especially when I have to reveal my past traumatic experiences. But this is one of my ways to make a difference in this world, and I hope this could activate some movements elsewhere in the world.

Last summer was the worst summer of my life. If you’ve been following my blog, you probably know what happened to me. Covid killed my father and the infection changed me forever – I can’t see the world as it is because of the overwhelming injustice I’ve witnessed along the way.

Think about it. I think this problem is universal and relevant all across generations and continents, so let me address it.

Legally okay, but ethically not okay

Just because it’s legally right doesn’t make it ethically right – political scandals, corporate corruption, and our own daily struggles with people. Their actions and choice of words may be legally okay, but we ethically think it’s not okay. And those ethically wrong behaviors and choices of words that are legally right can be seen everywhere in our world all across the regions. And if we keep allowing it to happen, our society won’t be able to sustain our existing morality indefinitely.

And I do believe policymakers’ job is to fill in the gap between the legal justifications and the ethical standpoints. Since the current legal rules invariably side with the power over the population, we have undeniable questions about the present unfairness and corrupt systems.

I, for one, experienced social injustice last summer. My former physician told me to never come see him for possible covid infections ever after my recovery from the contraction. His choice of words is so inhuman, and my physical and mental weakness prevents me from fighting him back. All I could do was swallow the nerve-wracking anger inside and let it go – the process of letting go was not an easy process, and even now I’ve been on my personal struggle to find the right foundation for myself.

So let me ask you this? Is what he told me legally right? Unfortunately yeah, it’s legally right for some reason (I know Japanese laws suck!). But ethically of course NOT OKAY. I was losing my father and was suffering from my own physical and mental struggles. I couldn’t even find the right choice of words for my struggles. And it was just the tip of the iceberg of the whole hellish experiences I’ve been through.

There were tons of people who told me insensitive and mean words, and even shamelessly tried their best to show off their evilest dark side over anonymous phone calls. Are they legally right? Again, yes they are. But ethically right? Not at all. There are too many of those toxic people and incidents out there, causing me to have some people problems and trust issues with society in general. And I know I’m not the only one who’s experienced that ethical dilemma. I’m 120% sure you also have many questions about how our ethically complex world organizes itself.

Make differences through actions

I know our world is not fair at all. And the laws don’t exist to protect us but those in power. But there are always things we can do because we all deserve options. And having options is one of the basic human rights we all have no matter what. I pretty much understand you may be angry about your situation and the current corrupt system. But again, let me repeat what I said – there are always things we can do because we all deserve opinions. The key is to convert your inner struggling feelings and angering energy into something more productive.

Think about it – you don’t like your corrupt country and your government, right? Then, you can consider leaving your home country and starting your new life elsewhere. It might be easier to leave the country than to change the current corruption all by yourself. Do you think you don’t have the skill to attract foreign employers? Well, you can, for example, consider pursuing a tech career (at least that’s what I did). There are a bunch of programming tutorials available on the Internet, such as YouTube and Udemy. where you can gain some valuable skills that are most needed in the 21st century.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be a tech career. But anything you’re interested in. And again, let me repeat it – there are always things we can do because we all deserve options. And think about the hypothetical situation where young people, like you and me, are leaving your country one after another, ending up with a massive exodus. In this hypothetical situation, which could be a reality, your corrupt leaders will be in trouble, because they can’t sustain the society without us. This is one way to make a difference not only on your personal level but on the national level of existential threat to the corrupted.

Maybe the start is small, but the goal is big. You can always start your new journey and gain some freedom. To gain it, you may need some skills and knowledge. No matter how bad your situation is and corrupt your government is, no one can stop you from learning. The day you stop learning is the day your life loses its luster. Your skills and knowledge will be your life-long companion to get through some difficult days.

Someday, we all will be an unsilenced voice together.

Until then, let’s fight for our happiness.

Let us begin.