To finish recording events surrounding the death of my next-door neighbour…

A few days ago, my wife and I met Alice Battle and her daughter, Wendy.

Alice repeated what the building contractor had told us, that she planned to use the house and grounds, after major house foundation refortification, as a weekend retreat.

Without provocation, she stated, “I have nothing to hide,” adding more conversation to verbalise a defense of unspoken thoughts against her.

I seem to remember a few people in my past making that statement and later finding out for myself that if a person cannot sense a situation of unethical behaviour, that person will engage in activities that are unintentionally unethical, assuming it’s normal, until that person is called out by another.

Ignorance of the law, ignorance of other persons’ perception of your ethical lapses — ignorance is ignorance, plain and simple.

I’ll leave this up to our neighbour on down the street to pursue the matter further, if she so chooses.

For now, I accept what our new neighbour says, and let her actions speak louder than words.

After all, I am a businessman myself, and know many a time when closing a deal meant leaving myself open to interpretation of ethical behaviour by others.

I know many a business person in our neighbourhood who could be accused of ethical misconduct.

At the end of the day, a few of us are responsible for creating a society where we can manage the lives of others, staying within the spirit of ethicality (or theatricality, according to the spellchecker), whilst we give the majority a belief that a whole socioeconomic system can operate fully under the law and within business ethics, when we know better.

My business associates/colleagues understand what I’m saying.  We know that many of us are born without a conscience, having no moral compass, and cannot be trained to believe otherwise.  Who are we to deny them their right to live the way they choose?

Instead, let us hold to the belief that everyone is important and has a place in our society, even when that place contradicts our own beliefs and actions.

Plan ahead, that’s our motto.

You already know our new slogan: “Business. Science. Competition.”

Create a law that stealing is a crime.  Then use those who steal to accomplish business and science goals for you, arresting and convicting them later on, giving those who believe in prison rehabilitation methods the opportunity to experiment on the conscience-less, keeping them both occupied and feeling wanted, one way or another.

Never underestimate the power of those who believe in magic that doesn’t exist, whatever labels they use to describe magical powers.