For Every Scoundrel there is a Hero!

Ok, maybe not for every scoundrel, but for every two!

The title is from the supposed letter that Abraham Lincoln wrote to his son’s teacher. (Actually it was not authored by Lincoln, but the author is unknown). This memorable line flashed in my mind after a near disastrous experience today. I was in a cab in my city Kolkata and after I got down and climbed up home, I suddenly recalled that I had forgotten my Laptop bag, along with the laptop in it in the cab! It was a heartbreaking shock as I rushed back out of the building due to the vast amount of data, passwords, ongoing work that I have in my Laptop for which I have no backup.

I rushed up and down the street in the hopes of finding the cab to no avail and it was sinking in that I have to get all my passwords changed, and I may have lost more than a month’s work which I would have to re-do… when I spotted a cab pushing towards me and there it was, with the driver waving his hand at me!

The cab driver apparently had gone quite a distance before finding new passengers who spotted the bag when they alighted. They told him there was a bag in his rear seat and he realized I had forgotten it. The fellow then asked his passengers to get down so that he could return to bring my bag back to me!

This will teach me to be less of a cynic…

Lincoln’s An Anonymous Father’s Letter to his Son’s Teacher

He will have to learn, I know,
that all men are not just,
all men are not true.
But teach him also that
for every scoundrel there is a hero;
that for every selfish Politician,
there is a dedicated leader…
Teach him for every enemy there is a friend,

Steer him away from envy,
if you can,
teach him the secret of
quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that
the bullies are the easiest to lick…
Teach him, if you can,
the wonder of books…
But also give him quiet time
to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,
bees in the sun,
and the flowers on a green hillside.

In the school teach him
it is far honourable to fail
than to cheat…
Teach him to have faith
in his own ideas,
even if everyone tells him
they are wrong…
Teach him to be gentle
with gentle people,
and tough with the tough.

Try to give my son
the strength not to follow the crowd
when everyone is getting on the band wagon…
Teach him to listen to all men…
but teach him also to filter
all he hears on a screen of truth,
and take only the good
that comes through.

Teach him if you can,
how to laugh when he is sad…
Teach him there is no shame in tears,
Teach him to scoff at cynics
and to beware of too much sweetness…
Teach him to sell his brawn
and brain to the highest bidders
but never to put a price-tag
on his heart and soul.

Teach him to close his ears
to a howling mob
and to stand and fight
if he thinks he’s right.
Treat him gently,
but do not cuddle him,
because only the test
of fire makes fine steel.

Let him have the courage
to be impatient…
let him have the patience to be brave.
Teach him always
to have sublime faith in himself,
because then he will have
sublime faith in mankind.

This is a big order,
but see what you can do…
He is such a fine little fellow,
my son!