Saturday, August 11, 2007

Did we learn the right way?

I can recall a small anecdote which later urged me to dissect and understand the way we learn and teach others about trust. It happened a few months back as I was driving back from some place I don't recall now. I was few blocks away from the apartment and couldn't miss noticing few Indian students (FOB) carrying heavily loaded grocery bags and walking in the same direction as me. The very first reaction for me was to reminisce my own school days of hardship. Second, was of urge to help and think I might just give them a ride and it will save them from the plight full of hot weather and heavy duty grocery lugging. So not thinking much further, I went ahead and turned right and pulled over. I went out and asked them, I can give you girls a ride? Their reaction was instantaneous and a no, (but thanks)! I should have known. I first thought, did I offend them? I put myself in their shoes and realized I would have done the exact same thing.
We are brought up learning not to trust strangers. In due set of experience in life we learn to not believe/trust very easily. This could be based plainly on experiences of our own or others close to our surrounding. This is not to deny that there isn't anything bad out there but what really happens in the process? We suspect more and trust less and the even the pure good has to go through the test of time. If someone is being really nice you question their intentions and motives. We often think that so much goodness cannot be selfless. How do you judge or sift through other people's actions or you don't? Should we live the cautious, defensive way? Society is often a reflection of our own distilled thoughts and actions and if we want the utopian society(if such is a possibility) possible where and how should we begin?