issue 235 习作 by tofee

tofeeUID: 2485486

235"Most people are taught that loyalty is a virtue. But loyalty—whether to one's friends, to one's school or place of employment, or to any institution—is all too often a destructive rather than a positive force."

I fundamentally agree with the author that, loyalty is often distructive rather than a positive. Moreover, in my view, when it seen as the virtue, loyalty could blind individual’s cognition, fade the real word or even recon the dysfunction of democracy.

Indeed, loyalty could seen as a great virtue, but rather to the acceptor than the deliverer. I explain it in three respects. First, Imagine J.K. Rowling with many loyal fans allover the world. and it is really a feat for a LDP in Japan which choosen by citizens for 60 years after the WWII. Of course, the loyalty-receivers have enough reason to flaunt their fan's enduring allegience. That is a kind of endorsement for a books’ taste, a party’s governing ablility, in some extent it is the trust, respect and expecting. Secondly, it is really a boon for one, no matter a writer, a brand or a party, to have enough allegience proping up behind. For example, the approval rate above 70% may give Mr Obama confidence when he decided to launch his sticky universal medicine reform. The popularity among the reader or audience means to a expecting best seller and huge hit, and the high-grossing of course. Thirdly, some times, the loyalty connect with the duty. As a solider, obedience and allegience is his duty.

However, too much emphasis the loyalty as individual’s virtue may mislead people’s cognition and even betray the truth. People’s attitude, conduct is induced by their cognition and decision. Rationality and reasoning should always be above the zeal and emotion when making a decision. When the loyalty blinds the rationality, prejudice, bigotry, or voodoo begot. The loyalty to the traditional medicine delay the treatment. The loyalty to the witch block the science. The loyalty to the confidant end up with complicity. The loyalty to the dictator whiplash the freedom. The allegience to the Hitler broken the world’s peace. The blind believe in something with the reason of loyalty is stupid and deleterious.

In the other hand, the “disloyalty” may serve as positive force. Take scientific community for example. Some breakthrough research have the feature of innovation, a kind of disloyalty to the traditional thought, in some extent. And of course, the Civil War is another sound example.   

In sum, loyalty could be seen as an honor to who receive it,or enduring preference of the deliverer. If this kind of preference does not base on the rationality or just a kind of bewitchment for bigot, it could be deleterious to the freedom, democracy or other’s well-being. In a shell nuts, loyalty have nothing to do with a individual’s virtue.