To Bribe or Not to Bribe - That is the Question

Ever wondered, if you are living in the subcontinent, whether the right path or choice according to laws set by the goverment should be followed? I am wondering now. By default, we have been asked by our elders, teachers, parents and anyone who apparently thinks he/she is right including those damn textbooks to follow rules and regulations. They somehow seem to forget to tell us and of course we during our period as "elders" will conveniently forget to tell the youngsters that rules and regulations have loopholes which are meant to be used - if you have the right kind of power, clout or money. The levels of these loopholes, how they are accessed and by whom vary depending on your social presitege a.k.a social status and which country you reside in. For example, a rickshaw driver would utilize the loophole of "gifting" {some people are stupid to think that these are bribes} items to police constables on the road whenever he {i havent seen a she rickshaw driver - no i am not a male chauvinist or sexist or any other term that exists in the Oxford English Dictionary that targets me in a negative way for such a simple statement} is caught for doing something that "goes against" the rules and regulations set by the goverment {Illegal is a word used commonly when someone is caught for doing something that "goes against" the rules and regulations set by the goverment}. These items can vary from certain hundred rupees to favors. A High level politican or successful businessman would use a loophole at a different or higher level. He/She would basically "gift" variety of items to senior officers, counterparts and other businessmen to invite tenders, business propositions and favors. The rules and regulations set by the goverment would request these fine citizens to require forms, undergeo processes and of course gauge up the time {somehow the processes take a long time in developed countries still even though this new concept of Outsourcing has caught up with them big time}, but considering the fact that the loophole gets things done faster, easier and more efficient - why not just use it?

I have been having the time of my life getting a visa {of any kind right now} to visit a certain country {not naming it just in case for my bad luck i get screwed}. My company Human Resource Managers called the embassy, requested them for details, receieved it, processed it and then handed me those forms. I of course thinking that the process is simple, went to the embassy only to see it be rejected without hesitation and of course no reason. Amused, Bewildered and Totally Confused are understatements. One officer made a sarcastic comment - "Why would we want to hire a Sri Lankan?". I gave him a meek smile, satisfied that at least I was not working in the hot and humid room like he was. Round Two - and this time I was better prepared and asking for less. Got a loophole{not mentioning it for obvious reasons}. Something had apparently gone wrong in the loophole{maybe the "gift" was not large enough} and I was rejected again and was consoled by a werid and traditional statement - "According to the horoscope - yesterday was a bad day for you and you shouldnt have applied". The "gift-taker" made this statement to my bemusement.

People seem to get very far when they don't follow the rules, the regulations or the "correct" paths. From Bill Gates to the recently elected mayor in the capital of a small island off the Indian Ocean have not followed these rules for success to garland them. Then why should any other individual be asked to do so? I hope whoever reads this blog comments on atleast one person who during their lifetime and path to success and glory had not committed a single act that would violate a rule or regulation. Somewhere somone had given a "gift", accepted one or had facilitated the transaction of one. So there is no question -"To Bribe or not to Bribe?" - if the answer you seek is the heading "Transaction Completed Successfully" because the best, easiest and efficient way to get it is to bribe and thus violate the rules and regulations, that you teach or will teach your children to follow.