The Best Intentions

People make mistakes and bad decisions all the time that also have major consequences.  When making these decisions and mistakes, people then must face the consequences and pay the penalty.  However, what if that person made that bad decision or made that mistake with the best intentions in mind?  What if that person made the decision with nothing but the best of faith at the time?  This is an extremely complex question with no easy answer.  In Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, An Artist of the Floating World, Masuji Ono makes decisions before World War II that he later on regrets.  However, he made this decision with the best intentions and in the best of faith.  Should Ono be forgiven or receive a free pass?

Ono is in marriage negotiations for his second daughter and is having dinner with her proposed husband and family.  At one point in the meal, Ono tells the family, “All I can say is that at the time I acted in good faith.  I believed in all sincerity I was achieving good for my fellow countrymen” (123-124).  He goes on to readily admit he made mistakes.  Ono used his paintings as a vehicle for the Japanese government to portray them in a positive light.  It was the wrong decision on his part.  One got caught up in nationalism as many people have done in times of war and on everyday occasions.  Therefore, it is hard to blame Ono or for anyone else in making bad decisions with the best of intent in order to benefit their country and countrymen.

At the end of the novel, Ono goes to see his old friend Matsuda.  Matsuda was also an ambitious man before the war who made mistakes along with Ono.  The two men are having a discussion when Matsuda says, “But there’s no need to blame ourselves unduly.  We at least acted on what we believed and did our utmost” (199-200).  Is it true that it is better to act on what you believe in than not to act at all?  Indeed, this is another slippery slope type question with no perfect answer.  However, Matsuda says they can’t be blamed totally.  However, he seems to imply that he still is partly to blame.

Overall, it is hard to say what should be done about a person who makes a mistake with the best intention in mind.  It is easy to say that one should be forgive because at the time, they were actually trying to do something good for someone or something.  However, the fact remains that the choice was a bad one and a mistake was made.  In the final analysis, one should be held responsible for their actions regardless of the circumstances.  One can be better informed when making a tough decision which will lead to a better or the right decision.  Just because a person makes a bad decision in the best of faith, does not change the fact that it was wrong.