Pride and Prestige

He had a good voice. He sang for the college band as the lead singer, and won many competitions.

Then one fine day, he was unceremoniously dropped in favour of a new kid, who necessarily didn’t have a better voice than him, but had better connections. After all, that was what really mattered.

However, it didn’t work out. The new entrant was booed by the audience, and was lucky enough to be only showered with catcalls. (Rotten tomatoes weren’t allowed into the auditorium.)

He (the original singer) didn’t have any idea of this; he had chosen to stay away from the whole thing.

Two days later, the professor heading the cultural committee and the band leader came to see him.

“Son,” said the professor, “You need to come back to the band.”

He shook his head, “I am sorry, I won’t.”

“But you must!” burst out the band leader. “We have inter-collegiate band competition coming up next month, and as the defending champions, if we don’t put up a good show, we would lose face!”

“You heard me.” He said flatly.

“Surely for the pride of college-“

“Don’t give me that nonsense” he snapped. “College as an institution is emotionless. It has neither a sense of pride nor prestige. It is your collective pride that’s at stake; you are worried that you would lose face.

When you chose that chap over me, you obviously didn’t give a damn about my pride. Now, I have decided to put my pride and self-esteem above that of yours, or that of the college, any way you choose to see it.”