Today, I’m thankful for those who refuse to stand down, even when there is stark opposition.
No good deed goes unpunished.
Although this saying has been attributed to many individuals, including the playwright Oscar Wilde, the write Clare Booth Luce, and the banker Andrew W. Mellon, the truth is that we do not fully know its true origin. Yet, the rule is so prevalent that it earned notoriety in the recent movie, Star Trek: Picard, as the long-lost “Newton’s Fourth Law of Thermodynamics.” We’ve all been in situations where a colleague has questioned our diligence or concerted work ethic, or when a genuine act of kindness is met with wholesome resistance, if not outright disdain. In such circumstances, it often feels easier to stand down than to remain resilient in one’s pursuit.
What if Abraham Lincoln decided to stand down in January 1865 in his dogged pursuit of the passage of the 13th Amendment to end slavery? What if J.K Rowling had decided to stand down after her first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was rejected by 12 publishing firms? What if Lin-Manuel Miranda decided to stand down after many early critics questioned whether a nearly three-hour hip-hop musical about a less known founding father really made much sense?
In the end, these stalwarts pressed ahead despite the criticism, uncertainty, and opposition that surrounded them. History is filled with copious examples when individuals decided to remain resolute in their pursuit of their dreams. Today is a good day to share two fitting instances, both on the far ends of the spectrum, to illustrate this point.
On the one end of the spectrum we have the innocent, lovable series known as Sesame Street. Back in 1966, a television producer (Joan Kanz) and renowned psychologist (Lloyd Morrisett) conceived the notion of developing a wholesome children’s educational program with the intent of airing it on public television. By that point, television had become a common staple of the American home, but the programming for children was often vapid, addictive, or lacked any instructional value. With this in mind, Krantz and Morrisett established the Children’s Television Workshop (CTW) and lobbied for financial support to air a new television show that would prepare preschoolers for their eventual foray into elementary school. First aired on US public television on this day (Nov 10) in 1969, Sesame Street would eventually blossom into one of the highest critically acclaimed programs in the world. In due time, all Amercian children would learn to adore the creative muppets of the late Jim Henson, including Big Bird, Elmo, The Cookie Monster, and Oscar the Grouch. Now with more than 150 versions produced in 70 languages, Sesame Street has earned 189 Emmy Awards, 11 Grammy Awards, and the distinct honor of having been viewed by 95% of all American preschoolers – including myself. Nevertheless, when the show first aired, Sesame Street was confronted by its fair share of critics. The state of Mississippi, where Jim Henson was born, initially refused to air it because of the highly racially integrated cast. Conversely, others argued that the show was too superficial and did not fully integrate all ethnicities and races. In fact, some psychologists argued the show might even have a negative influence on impressionable children, as it painted a somewhat superficial picture of the oft-harsh realities of urban life in America. Well, 51 years later, the critics may be gone, but Sesame Street is still going strong.
On the other, far end of the spectrum we have the racy, controversial novel, Lady Chatterley’s Lover. The original version of D.H. Lawrence’s epic novel about an adulterous affair between an upper-class socialite and her working class gamekeeper was initially banned in nearly every country, except France and Italy. Filled with graphic accounts of sex and a litany of eye-raising 4-letter words, the book was initially banned in the United States, Canada, Australia, and even D.H. Lawrence’s homeland of the United Kingdom. The English author would die of tuberculosis in 1930, just a few years after its initial release, so he did not have a chance to witness the infamous controversy caused by the release of the full novel 3 decades later. In fact, after Penguin Books released the unadulterated version of Lady Chatterley’s Lover in 1960, the renowned publishing company was brought to London’s Central Criminal Court for violating the then-newly implemented Obscene Publication Act of 1959. The British populace was gripped for 6 days, while the court listened to the arguments on both sides of the aisle. The huge divide between the conservatives who vowed to convict the publisher and the more liberated British public who feared the Big Brother mentality of the state came to its rightful head when the chief prosecutor, Mervyn Griffith-Jones, questioned if this novel was something “you’d wish your wife or servants to read”. The court broke out in laughter over the absurdity of the argument, showcasing how out of touch British leaders were with the realities of common British life. Well, Penguin Publishers won the case since the novel fulfilled the criteria of ‘literary merit’, and the book was released just a week later. All 200,000 copies were sold on this exact day 60 years ago, and another 2 million would be sold within the year.
So, I guess it may be true that no good deed goes unpunished. But, in the end, the punishment one endures is often so worth the perceived offense.
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