Two Perspectives on Loyalty
Two Perspectives on Loyalty Dr. Janet Smith Warfield, Florida, USA and Dr. Amit Nagpal, New Delhi, India Dr. Janet Smith Warfield’s Perspective Encarta Dictionary defines loyalty as “a feeling of devotion, duty, or attachment to somebody or something.” But who is that “somebody” or “something” to which we feel devotion, duty or attachment? And to what extent should we carry out that devotion, duty and attachment? And what do we do when we experience a conflict of loyalties? These are not easy questions. As children, we are very attached to our parents, regardless of whether they are loving or abusive. We have little choice, because we depend on them for our food, clothing, and shelter. As we grow, we begin to make friends. Why do we choose some over others? Isn’t it because we meet each others’ needs and we feel comfortable in each others’ presence? Here there is a reciprocity of loyalty. As we reach adulthood, we begin to look for a mate. How do we decide who is w...