Hypocrisy?

Wide smile of appreciation;
gleam of cold steel.

Jovial, blithe commiserations;
harsh condemnation.

Sanctimonious preaching of compassionate accommodation;
harsh iron prison

Amity; enmity

I really detest hypocrisy. More aptly put, I disdain duplicity. Often, survival and societal position necessitates dissimulation. That is how, for example, an army survives. By dissimulation of real abilities and simulation of power through the rank structure. Or a feudal state. Or any incompetent government, for that matter. But duplicity for the sake of duplicity is unnecessary and jarring. As my superior in my current vocation, false affection does not beget benefits. False affectation only broadcasts your character weakness (<--my character weakness often forces my to jump to conclusions too! 24/8/2008).

Hi Eugene:
Do you still remember what inspired this piece? Probably takes a while to recall! Entropy does take a toll on the human memory. Do you find this piece a painful reflection of what you are? Have you become what you dread to become, slipping into the cloak that you disdain? Or do you smile to yourself, happy that you have sustained your personal ethos and survived?