DIGNITY IS NOT NEGOTIABLE

I had just finished an article to post here today (22.10.2019) when I received this message in my Whatsapp.

I then decided that I should post this before my prepared article.

One morning at a Law College, when a new teacher for "Introduction to Rights" entered the classroom, the first thing he did was to ask the name of a student who was seated on the first bench: "What is your name?"

"My name is Juan, Sir."

"Leave the classroom and I don't want to ever see you in my class ever!" screamed the unpleasant teacher.

Juan was bewildered. When he got hold of his senses, he got up quickly, collected his belongings and left the classroom.

All were scared and angry; however, nobody spoke anything.

"Well, let's start the class," said the new teacher. "What purpose do the enacted laws serve?"

We were afraid, but slowly gained confidence and we began to answer his questions.

"So that there is order in our society."

"No!" the teacher shouted.

"So that people pay for their wrong actions?"

"No! Doesn't anybody here have enough brains to know the answer to this question?!" asked the teacher, sarcastically.

"So that there is justice," said a girl timidly.

"At last! One person who is not a complete moron! That's correct.... so that there is justice. And now, what is the use of justice?"

All of us were extremely uneasy with his rude attitude. However, we continued trying to answer....

"To safeguard human rights."

"Well, what more?" asked the teacher.

"To differentiate right from wrong and to reward the good."

"Ok, that's not bad. However, answer this question: Did I act correctly when expelling Juan from the classroom?"

All were quiet, nobody answered.

"I want a decisive and unanimous answer!" he shouted.

"No!" we all replied in unison.

"Then could you say I committed an injustice?"

"Yes!"

Then his voice softened and he asked, "And why did nobody do anything in that respect? So why do we need rules and laws if we don't have the necessary will to practice them? Each one of you has an obligation to do something when you witness an injustice. ALL of you! Do not stay quiet, never again! Go and call Juan," he said staring at me.

On that day, I received the most practical lesson in my course of Law. When we don't defend our rights, we lose our dignity, and dignity is not negotiable.

How does the above relate to my former Lions Club - Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu Host?
 

To the question what is the use of justice?"

Someone answered: "To safeguard human rights."

Who safeguarded my rights when I was expelled from the Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu Host with trumped up charges?

Does anyone really know why I was expelled?

Another response was: "To differentiate right from wrong and to reward the good."

Do any of the so called Lions of Lions Clubs of Kota Kinabalu Host know how to differentiate right from wrong?

Was telling the truth and asking for opinions from fellow Lions around the world wrong?

Did I lie in any of my posts on FB or in my blog?

What reward did I get for exposing the wrong doings of the members of LCKK Host?

Here is another question from the article above: “Did I act correctly when expelling Juan from the classroom?"

Similarly, did the members of LCKK Host act correctly when they expelled me from the club with trumped up charges?

The lesson for all of us is: "And why did nobody do anything in that respect? So why do we need rules and laws if we don't have the necessary will to practice them? Each one of you has an obligation to do something when you witness an injustice. ALL of you! Do not stay quiet.”

If a few members had stood their ground and took on the members who had willfully operated secret bank accounts we could have all moved on and walked with our heads high.

Soon, I will start posting articles to be included in my sequel to my book 'Wolves among Lions.'