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From an empirical point of view the choice I had to make was very simple but it was the emotional and psychological elements that tore me apart.[F6] I know some would say that my friend did not deserve my loyalty due to his own indiscretion and that he was jeopardizing our friendship. Yet he never asked me to lie for him, in fact he was probably naïve in trusting me to keep this secret. In hindsight, I could have pleaded ignorance to my employer and since there was no real evidence against me, I doubt I would have been terminated. At the time, I thought I was doing the right thing. I was standing up and being honest as was taught to me by my parents and educators since childhood. Yet why was the burden on my shoulders? What was my duty to my employer? Perhaps my only duty was to do my job and come in on time and nothing beyond that. What was my duty to my friend? Keeping a friend’s secret is also (a) value that has been instilled in me. These opposing values were in constant conflict within me and were actually causing physical duress and sleep deprivation. When I reflect on my decision, a part of me knows that it was fear that guided me not morality or ethics. Maybe I told on him just to relieve myself of the burden. I honestly do not know which.[F7] The only intelligent conclusion that I can draw is that life is hard and living by a moral and ethical code is even harder. The next time I am confronted by a decision of this magnitude I will be cautious in my choice and that choice will reflect my values and needs(punc.: ,) not that of my employer, my friend, my parents or anyone else. At the end of the day we all have to sleep with our own conscience and no one
