Honesty

It was a good day. Interesting mix of events, but nice. Jogged, got a small blister, but I fell into a rhythm that felt comfortable for a short time. Good development. Home, out to breakfast, back home, shower, devotions. However, the cat cuddled up on my chest and fell asleep. Sooo cozy. I loved it. I fell asleep too. So much for devotions.

But I still had to accomplish things today, so I got up and researched how to cook a turkey, which is my big project for tomorrow. I think I have a handle on it. (???) Made a shopping list, and my Mr. went and got it all. We made lunch, and then we were off and running.

The rest of the afternoon we met with people who were interested in selling our calendars. They were all friends of ours, and it was not only good to see them, but they were enthusiastic about our product.

Made soup for supper at home and then enjoyed Myth Busters and (yes, I'm properly embarrassed) America's Next Top Model. I love the photos; they're so artistic. Anyway, it's soon time for bed.

However, to justify the title I gave this blog, I had a frustrating conversation yesterday and I want to vent a little. A visitor from the US stated that there's honesty, and there's dishonesty. Cut and dried. Black and white. He prides himself in being a world traveler and very experienced.

I tried to tell him that it isn't that simple here, but he persisted. I don't enjoy a "good" argument and I don't think quickly enough for verbal sparring, so I didn't challenge him further. But I was very frustrated.

How do you explain that we live in a world where the law isn't "law". It is flexible, and bends and flows depending on who you are or how much money you are willing to pay. Sometimes "laws" simply disappear, sometimes they mysteriously materialize out of nowhere.

I know a foreigner who is able to do things no one else is able to do simply because he's in good with a high-ranking general. Is that honest or dishonest?? It's the system here. He's just working within that framework.

I also know that when you sincerely are trying to follow all the laws, the officials still expect something called "ink money" for their signatures. In short, a bribe. You don't get any further until you do that.

I feel frustrated sometimes when people over-simplify things, and judge me because I can no longer do that. The world is so much more complex than I ever dreamed. There's an air of arrogance when we pretend to have it all figured out.