If only

 Reasons and excuses. We spend a lifetime debating, fighting, arguing and in general, complaining about either one of those actions. We are seeking an advantage. That is the sole reason for that. The entire time we are doing that we are also proclaiming all we want is equality. But, as I like to point out, everyone wants to be treated equally; until they are. Then the reasons and excuses come out as to why you should be given an advantage of some type. The reason or excuse may, or may not have had a direct impact on you, it may have taken place decades ago or centuries ago but you feel it is valid today. It is the reach for advantage that is important, not the actual reality of the current condition. In business it is called leverage. Something, anything I can use to my advantage that is very difficult for you to dispute. 

  I asked this question some time back. If you receive benefit from something, some action, some legislation or whatever does the motivation behind that matter? It's another way of asking about pandering. Is it alright for others to pander to you as long as you get what you want? Is pandering only bad when it applies to others? Well now, that's also reasons and excuses. Consider this discussion of DEI that is currently in the news. In particular, the diversity hire thing. Should one be hired because of their abilities or because they would check some other box? Checking that box may indeed provide a benefit to the business or organization but how to balance the benefit between reason and excuse?

 That's the sticking point isn't it? Certainly the person being hired is receiving the benefit. Will anyone place the responsibility on the one accepting that benefit? I haven't heard that happening. Nc, the blame is placed on the one doing the hiring, they are accused of pandering. Where is the individual responsibility in all of that? It is being erased because, well, allow me to list the reasons and excuses for that. But never mind all of that, don't analyze any of that, just give me the advantage! I deserve it! It is the only way to make me equal with everyone else. I'm not qualified for the position, and if I'm not given this advantage I will never get that position, so to be treated equally I have to be given this position even though I am not equal in ability but I have an excuse for that, or a reason. 

  That brings us to the "if only" portion of this scenario. If only I had been this or that, my ancestors had done this or that or if only someone else was doing the hiring, the selecting or extending of those benefits. If only I had gone to college or technical school and gained the necessary training. I didn't because. If only I had. If only the Portuguese hadn't purchased black captives for tribal members and sold them to British colonists in 1607. If only the King of England, good old George, had listened to the voices of his subjects in north America, the revolution may never have taken place. If only those southern democrats hadn't decided to secede from the union in the desire to form an independent nation that would enshrine slavery as the law of the land. Yes, if only. 

  If only everyone agreed with whatever you thought and said. Now that would be equality! I get to do whatever I want, say whatever I want and I receive your full support. You even celebrate that! If only that where the case. But, it's not. So I need to provide the reasons and excuses to allow that to happen. I need to press the advantage in some fashion. I need to get you to capitulate in some fashion. The reason you do so isn't important, just that you do. My reason or excuse needs to provide the motivation for your response. It's the idea that you get more flies with honey than you do vinegar scenario. That failing, brute force will suffice in the short term until control can be established. That's true, even when that force is simply the force of law. The removal of morality and ethics by the implementing of what will be called, the moral and ethical decision. The pressing of advantage. It's the reason and the excuse. Reverse pandering? If you benefit from that it is not pandering, if I benefit from that, it is pandering. Everyone is equal, until they aren't. Well, if only.