"RESPECTABLE PEOPLE
The woman sat across from the Director's desk and said, 'As I explained on
the phone, I'm writing a book on hypocrisy in high places. Thanks for your
aid.'
The Director opened a folder. 'These should help. All are a matter of
public record. Like some samples?'
The Director pulled a newspaper clipping from the folder. 'Try this sample
of human respectability. This man mailed sixteen anonymous hate letters to
a large church. They were filled with blackmail demands and threats of
violence. He was caught when he carelessly mentioned a club he had joined.
He turned out to be a highly praised religious leader who saw the church as
a rival to his power. He had a family, local admiration - a very
respectable member of society.'
The Director held up another clipping. 'Here's a woman who founded a
crusade dedicated to ending world hunger. She gave hundreds of lectures,
collected millions of dollars, and occupied a luxurious office. One day a
shipping clerk looked curiously at the destination of a truckload of food.
They found she had been sending food to her own private warehouse for
black-market profit and for her own home use. Another honorable social
leader.'
Closing the folder, the Director remarked, 'You may think these are
exceptions. Not at all. They are simply the ones who were exposed.'
The woman nodded. 'There must be millions more.'
The Director said, 'People don't refrain from crime because they're decent,
but from fear of getting caught. Remove the police from the streets and
nice and friendly neighbors would rob and rape each other like something
out of World War II.'
'Why do people remain sick?'
'Because they refuse to see that other-injury is the same as self-injury.'
'Are those two people still here?'
'They never were here. The man now holds an even higher position than
before. The woman still has thousands of devoted followers.'
The Director gestured toward the open window. 'They are out there... those
nice, respectable people ... they are out there destroying the world.'"
Inside the Lunatic Asylum - Society
SOLVED The Mystery of Life
Chap. 3, p. 42 (Previous version)
Chap. 3, p. 31 (Current version)