A Window Into Bendy Morals
Or how I learned to stop worrying and ask about water situation.
This flash essay is part of a collaborative, constrained-writing challenge undertaken by some members of the Bangalore Substack Writers Group. This month, we used the prompt, ‘A Window Into…’. At the bottom of this post, you’ll find links to other essays by fellow writers.
I was mildly surprised recently, realizing I was getting increasingly jealous of this Epstein guy by the minute, as scrolled down the page. And that was weird. Because, you know, Epstein. It’s like getting jealous of Bill Cosby.
My mainstay for entertainment beyond the regular movies / series / books are 2-3 YouTube channels. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert being one of those. I just watch the monologues most of the times. So, you see why I am so updated about what the news coverage in the US. But light on details. And completely blank on news of my own local municipality.
Anyway, I was getting mildly annoyed by the constant drumbeat of everything “Trump” on the show. The name callings, the same jokes. The same Epstein files. So I had taken a break from all that US news and nonsense.
Till one day, I noticed that Epstein files have been released. I knew it was a big deal for some in the USA. I was not really that curious myself with it either way. But you know how the likes of NDTV and Times Now cover any story. They lead with a picture. Even in that tiny blurb on Google News where even the headline is cut off, they somehow manage to display a good picture.
And the picture in this “Epstein Files released” story was of Bill Clinton dressed up like a lady. That got my attention.
Indian news channels are not all number one in the country for nothing.
Couple of clicks later, I found myself on NYT / Guardian, scrolling down the pictures of said documents. Pictures of photos from the Epstein files. Some redacted, some not. Interspersed with commentary trying to make it all sound more important than it was.
And all I could think of as I scrolled was - “Wow! this guy really kept cool company...”
Now wait, I’m not talking about the girls or women he was surrounded with. No, just the eclectic nature of folks there.
Have you known of any other one single person hosting the likes of Stephen Hawking, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, Ehud Barak, Mick Jagger, David Copperfield,, George Lucas, Musk, Noam Chomsky, Marvin Minsky, and others? A lot of times, a bunch of them in the same room even! A bunch of them repeat visitors. And not in those boring ballroom or sanitized settings. But Richard Branson walking about barefoot in the garden. Mick Jagger looking slightly bored somehow at a dinner table, while Bill Clinton is says something.
That kind of an eclectic company in a casual, friendly, setting is what I found myself getting jealous of.
And that felt wrong. Because, again, you know, Epstein.
You could be gentle with me and say - “But Amit, there can always be a good and fun, interesting side to worst people too. And it is okay to like or be jealous of the good parts, without sanctifying all the rest of it.”
Well, thank you! But first of all, there’s a longer discussion to be had on “the Cancel Culture”. And second, I think it is a deeper rot. It’s not just people. I think my moral fiber can be quite flexible in a bunch of situations.
Every time we go out for a walk with my partner, we can’t help but comment on whatever possessed the people on this particular street to cut down all the trees. The neighboring streets are all lush and leafy. All, except this one.
Whenever we pass by a house built with no surrounding trees, we tut-tut. And if someone is actually chopping trees to build or renovate, we wince and move away quickly. “Cannot do much here” and “These morons do not deserve to live in Bangalore” - are some of the thoughts that cross the mind.
But I also know that on the very same plot - if the builder ever offers me a flat in the upcoming building at a really good rate - my question would be: “What’s the water situation? Bore‑well or Cauvery only?”
Also check out other essays / stories by fellow Bangalore Substackers on the same topic:
The window that looks back, by Vaibhav Gupta, Thorough and Unkempt
A window into the vegetable market by Rakhi Kurup , Rakhi’s Substack
A window into permission for freedom: The FIRE Number by Shruti Soumya, Same Here
A window into the fixity and flux by Amit Charles, AC Notes
A window into a person who shivers on stage by Mihir Chate, Mihir’s Substack
A window into a life on a sabbatical by Ritika Arora, Ritika Arora – Medium
A window into Kalimpong by Karthik Ballu, Reading This World by Karthik
A window into what makes a great Quiz Question by Rajat Gururaj, I came, I saw, I floundered
Still Looking By Spandana, Spandana’s Substack
A window into a screen-less day by Saniya Zehra Saniya’s Substack
"bendy morals" is a fun phrase. I like how you can look at yourself without wincing.
I like the term “bendy morals”. From wanting to be in the company of who’s who to Cauvery water in Bangalore , the essay has come a long way.