by Mark Mukasa

Created on: August 25, 2009

Call me old fashioned, but I am a firm believer in hard work. Be it in marriage, education, employment or friendships, I believe that perseverance and diligence always results in benefits for the individuals. These values have been instilled at me since birth. My primary school motto was Never settle for less than your best and my high school motto was to keep our standards ever high. These sentiments have made me predisposed to not quitting at my task no matter how bleak. Therefore I've always considered taking the easy way out cowardly.

Now this is subjective. Sometimes taking the easy way out is not only the bravest thing to do, but also the smartest thing to do. For example, sometimes when an antagonistic person confronts you, the easiest thing to do is to give into them and start fighting, verbally or physically. However, walking away from unnecessary confrontations can be at times the bravest thing to do (as it shows that you do not need to give into a petty quarrel and can continue to life your life peacefully) and the smartest thing to do (why place yourself at risk for a mindless fight?). Knowing when to walk away and to fight from a confrontation is necessary.
However, I differentiate between these circumstances. Walking away from a fight is not cowardice or taking the easy way out. What I consider to be taking the easy way out is shirking from one's responsibilities. This is highly unethical, cowardly and can have drastic effects on other people.
Taking the easy way out on responsibilities often has drastic knock on effects on other people. What might seem as the easy way out initially usually snowballs into something more insidious. Many shy out of their responsibilities due to a need to immediately gratify themselves. Many people who do this do not think of the potential consequences or choose to ignore them in favour of pleasure. This is not only a foolish attitude to have but a dangerous one at times. For example if a man might decide to steal an item from a store because it seems like the easiest thing to do at the time. However the consequences of this if he is caught could result in arrest and prosecution from the store company. The man could effectively face incarceration and criminal record that would make it harder for him to obtain employment or even admission to further education. What seemed as the easiest thing to do at the time eventually spiralled into a worse situation for the individual which could effect him detrimentally for

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