Constructive criticism for national development

Ajith PERERA

Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines the term criticism thus: ‘Looking for faults or pointing out faults.’ The two definitions are at two different extremes. One looks for mistakes or finds faults and it can be deliberate. The other definition points out mistakes and it can be helpful or encouraging. If we criticize someone or something for the sake of criticism, it is inhuman, indecent and unethical. But if we point out faults of someone or something that affects public opinion or misuse of power and authority, misleading, misinterpretations etc with good intention, it can never be inhuman, indecent and unethical. People need to be corrected. Failures and due corrections are the pillars of success. Further, people make mistakes but fools only repeat them.

Criticisms are of two main types; constructive and destructive. Our genuine criticisms should be constructive. The intention of criticism is apparent in the way a person criticizes someone or something. Pointing out mistakes and helping them to be corrected is quite human-friendly. People are frightened of the term criticism because in our Sri Lankan social and lingual context criticism has more negative connotation than denotation. If the criticism is bad how do we use criticism in literature? It is an interesting area in literature.

In social criticism there should not be room for tarnishing the good name and image of others. That does not mean we should give into anything done by anyone. Criticism cannot be judgment. It should be enlightenment. According to the teachings of the Bible - ‘Do not judge others, so that God will judge you because God will judge the same way you judge others and he will apply to you the same rule you apply to others.’ (Mt 7: 1-3) Not only Jesus Christ but also any other religious leader would not say pointing out the blunders of people and society is wrong but we have no right to rash judgments because things aren’t always what they seem.

If we face criticism with an attitude of openness, then we will find positive values in criticism.

Constructive criticism

Constructive criticism will help us to question ourselves. Constructive criticism always builds and creates life and enhances growth. Therefore, it is our openness and ability to find the pearls of self-growth and development in the given remark. Constructive criticism must be welcomed with open arms. In the words of J. Jelinek, “We learn more by welcoming criticisms than by rendering judgment.”

Never forget the fact that you will discover the best in you from constructive criticism. This type of criticism we usually receive from our loved ones and from those who are really and genuinely interested in our growth. Criticism may hurt indeed, but the result will be our good fortune. This type of criticism is also called creative criticism, since it creates life and promotes growth.

When a group makes positive attempts, a leader is the one who gives constructive suggestions and appreciations. It gives joy and happiness to the members of the group to work with such leaders. They give corrections with love. Their criticism will be a part of a solution. They criticize not to humiliate or to put others down. In this way the leader becomes a magnetic person to whom people flock.

Extremism

Criticism must not entertain one’s personal extremes. We can point out mistakes or even errors of people, society, government or even religious leaders for our own good but not destruction. Destructive criticism is such that adversely affects the growth of others. Such remarks do not have any correspondence with reality. Such remarks are sometimes made consciously. This is an effective tool for our enemy to put us down, to demotivate, or even mislead us. We need not accept all the remarks made by others. Here prudence is needed to accept or reject criticism made of us.

Destructive criticism cannot see the brighter side of life. Those who engage in destructive criticism are like sadists who find happiness in causing others pain. Destructive critics are very unpleasant to have for any serious meetings. They will not allow things to happen and will find a problem in every progressive idea and project.

A good amount of self-awareness is necessary to find a way out of destructive critical personalities. They need to give special attention to every word they utter. Special attention must be given when interventions are made in the form of evaluation and assessment. All the time it is good to ask whether the remark I make will promote life, love and freedom. If the answer is negative, better not to make such a remark at all.

Extra careful

When pointing out faults or blunders we need to be extra careful because some people like to be corrected and they are thankful to us because they are intelligent. On the contrary some don’t. Some are very good friends as long as they are praised but not criticized. If they are criticized even constructively for their own good, they become dangerous enemies. Therefore, let us not throw our pearls in front of pigs - they will only trample them underfoot.

In a country like ours more than committing an offence, pointing it out is a grave crime. If it is the mentality of the public, how can we learn through mistakes and move forward? Some good friends become bad enemies after pointing out their errors or mistakes. As long as we keep quiet before faults and deception, we are good and pious. Isn’t it our opportunism and hypocrisy that elevates us to false glory before others?

Flattery can never be substituted when correction is needed. Since no one is perfect on earth we need correction. This could be the way one thinks but the others may like one to be deaf, dumb and blind before their cheating, bluffing and deception.

Those who dance in the procession do not see the mistakes they make. It is the viewers who can comment on their performance. When the king who was naked said only those who were intelligent could see the beauty of his royal garments, all those ministers who were greedy for positions and wanted to pretend they were intelligent, yelled that the king’s garment was very beautiful. But the innocent child who had no fear of anything said what he saw frankly. ‘The king was naked.’ The king who was fooled by the tailor might have thought that only the intelligent people could see the beauty but all the ministers knew absolutely that the king was fully naked but said the opposite to prove their intelligence.

What should we do at such moments in society? Shall we be the opportunists and hypocrites like the ministers or honest and open like the child?