Indecent proposal

A famous author found himself seated beside an attractive young woman
in a dinner tendered in his honor. He couldn't take his eyes off that
seductive-looking woman. When they were left alone, he looked at the
woman straight in the eyes and said, "Would you like to go to bed
with me if I were to give you $100,000?" The woman initially felt
insulted, but after a moment, said, "I guess I would." Silence.

Breaking the pregnant pause, the man fired his second question, "Then
would you go to bed with me if I were to give you $10?" This time the
woman really got mad. She stood and said, "Just what do you think I
am?" To which the author replied cooly, "But, my dear, we have
already established what you are, I am simply negotiating for the
price."

It has been said that all of us has a price. And looking at the things
we assign premium value to, it just might be true.

Sometime ago I was introduced to a foreign businessman who wanted to
sell his products locally. He gave the right to me, and with that
resolved, the deal was on.

But a few days later, I found out the same products sold to
practically all my competitors. The foreigner vehemently denied this.
After I gathered all the necessary physical evidences, I flew to visit
this foreigner in his country.

I gathered that this well-dressed, smooth-talking businessman was not
honest in his dealings with me, so I decided to cancel my orders

I set up an appointment for dinner to formalize the cancellation. A
long Mercedes Benz limousine was sent to pick me up from my hotel and
be brought to an elegant Italian restaurant. The dinner was expensive
but the gift he gave during the meal was even more expensive -- an
antique collector's watch.

He was insistent that I accept the watch so, for fear of being
poisoned to death, I accepted it. "Isn't this the price in exchange
for a few signatures on the order sheets?" I thought to myself.

I can't seem to understand why because bribery is not the style of
business in this country. Later on, it became clear to me that the
problem is not his country; but rather, mine. Many of our businessmen
accept gifts from him; those whom he can buy with the "right" price.

Finally, after a night of prayer, I returned the watch together with
the cancelled orders to this businessman with a note, "Please accept
my apologies, but I cannot receive your gift, for I view it as a form
of bribery. I just would like to let you know that not everyone from
our country could be brought for a price."

Exodus 23:8 says, "And you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds
the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just."

I went home that day fulfilled. And by the way, I never enjoyed that
expensive dinner. Who cares if it's Italian?"

* By Francis J. Kong, "Only the Real Matters"

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From: jgat777@globelines.com.ph