What is The True Meaning of Being ‘Right’?
Every individual displays conflicting opinions about almost everything.
Your experiences, upbringing, thought-process, likes, dislikes, etc contribute towards the perspective that is shaped within you.
This perspective of yours is constantly changing. It’s nature is impermanent, because at every second, and every millisecond spent on this planet, you are undergoing a transition either internally or externally.
After watching a YouTube video, even as simple as a vlog, there is a plethora of novel ideas and facts that you might’ve grasped or paid attention to, as a result transforming your outlook.
With all of this in mind, each person forms their own individual opinions towards different things they come across.
Not everyone will agree with your outlook. They might lay emphasis on the faults in your opinion, or support your individual decision, or blatantly disagree with you and ensure that by the end of the conversation, you alter your opinion as well.
Sheer dogmatism, to be specific.
In a world filled with an endless buffet of information to choose from, each perspective’s validity is relative.
So, the question is,
‘what does it mean to be right?’
Honestly, the answer to these questions itself also might be right to one person, but wrong to another.
If you google the word ‘right’, the plethora of results will still not be a suitable answer to the question.
Right, in one context, means being correct, moral, lawful, honest, etc.
Another question then arises,
are all moral things right?
a simple example:
After the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the British captured India and colonized the entire country for almost a century, the struggle to gain independence caused several freedom fighters to revolt against the laws of the land back then, i.e. British Raj & East India Company. Although they’re going against the laws, which is ‘immoral’ in a normal situation, is an exception in this scenario.
If Mahatma Gandhi would take into consideration the moral or legal consequences of his actions while launching the Quit India Movement on 8th August 1942, would India be where it is today?
Here, the question of obeying the laws of the land doesn't come into question, as the lawmakers themselves are imperialist rulers causing nothing but immense distress to the people of India.
In that scenario, obeying the law to achieve freedom was impossible, hence, being incorrect.
Nothing is universally right- we just apply the term ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ based on our personal prejudices and make a final consideration.
Wars are simply disagreements and the efforts of each country to influence other countries towards their political, social or economical approach. More conflicting opinions stirs up more chaos, and next thing you know there’s a war.
There is no universal answer towards the question of what is right. Fortunately, what we must remember is this:
Always believe in yourself first. Unless the person providing you with the information, opinion, or rumor is a credible source who is reliable, remember to do your own research and trust your own gut feeling before getting influenced by any external factor.
Hope this article helped you broaden your horizon.
Don’t forget to check out my Podcast, ‘All Is Well with Haaniya Syal’ on Spotify and stay updated whenever I post a new episode. Link to my most recent episode is down below!
I shall end this article with a quote:
Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.
-Confucius.
