Cooperation begets results
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I read with great interest Tulsathit Taptim's Stoppage Time column of March 20, "A fine line between idealism and hypocrisy". He notes that, to promote an idealistic philosophy, we often have to do things that are not idealistic.
I believe, for example, that many people in America run for Congress or the Senate with good intentions and a desire to help their country. But after they get elected they do so much wheeling and dealing and selling out to the special-interest groups that they forget why they ran for office in the first place.
Although I’m a vegetarian, in the past I’ve praised Burger King for making some effort to improve the conditions of the animals they use for food. Some people would say I’m selling out because Burger King is obviously not a vegetarian restaurant. I always remind people that the only real way to stop the atrocities against animals is to stop eating them, but until that happens I am willing to work with non-vegetarians to try to at least reduce the suffering of the animals.
The trick is to never lose sight of your idealism and to only compromise in order to promote your ideals. If you demand all or nothing, you’ll probably get nothing.
Eric Bahrt
Pattaya
