In Puerto Rico, we have a bad habit of complicating things to justify the unjustifiable. It’s our dangerous tendency to rationalize what is wrong.
Sometimes I feel like I live in a tropical version of Gotham City. Sure, Gotham City doesn't exist. But Puerto Rico resembles that fictional city so much. We have normalized corruption and indifference to such an extent that when someone tries to play the role of Commissioner Gordon and light the Bat-Signal, the self-proclaimed public relations specialists and advisors appear to put it out and prevent Batman from doing his job.
This is a cultural sickness. Every time someone decides to enforce the law and truly oversee – or simply do their job correctly – whether in a private corporation or a government agency, the "public relations specialists" and "advisors" of conformity appear with the same cheap excuses to explain why that person "had to be fired."
It’s time to stop covering up the obvious. I’m going to present some excuses used by these self-proclaimed public relations specialists that keep this Gotham City in darkness.
Excuse #1: "They got there through cronyism; they’re So-and-so’s child or What’s-her-name’s friend"
Using someone's background or political affiliation to discredit their work makes sense if the person is a complete nobody and a mere puppet. Many times, neither you nor I has a say in who gets hired for any given position, and all we can do is observe whether that chosen person performs their job correctly.
Many times (the vast majority), they choose what is called a "yes man" in English, someone who serves as a puppet. But sometimes something unimaginable happens. That employee decides to perform their duties fully. So, if the "connected" person is the only one who dares to do their job responsibly, the cronyism excuse becomes irrelevant. In Puerto Rico, everyone has a mixed background. A professional should be judged by the execution of their duty, not by their family tree or political party. You should support that person because their effectiveness will make your life easier, directly or indirectly.
Excuse #2: "But we have to be careful... (The Excuse of Fear)"
Please! That's a hostage mentality. This is what harms us most as a society. It’s the same mentality of Gotham City's citizens who didn’t report the mafia out of fear. This excuse suggests that an official (employee or whoever) should ignore the law and ethics to maintain "peace" with the powerful.
A leader's ministerial duty is not to be liked by the Board, nor the boss, nor the shareholders; it is to comply with the law and protect the public interest. If the law states that something is wrong, it is corrected, period. He who backs down out of fear of the consequences is not a "prudent strategist"; he is an accomplice. If you get fired for doing the right thing, the problem is not you; it's the cowardly system that got rid of you.
And to those watching from the outside, to contractors and suppliers: stop enabling disaster. When you support an unethical official or executive, you are supporting a system that, sooner or later, will bring you problems, whether ethical or financial. Supporting someone else's integrity is the best insurance policy for your own business.
Excuse #3: "No one’s going to pay my bills."
This is the hardest to combat because it appeals to the survival instinct. We have reached the point where we believe that the price of our paycheck is not only for hours worked but also includes our dignity and our silence. It’s the logic of the corrupt police officer who accepts a bribe "because they're paid little."
But the harsh reality is this: if your salary depends on you looking the other way while an injustice or fraud is committed, you are not earning a salary; you are collecting a bribe in installments. Integrity has a cost, yes, and I have paid it. But I assure you that the cost of losing self-respect is much greater.
Excuse #4: "Everyone is the same."
This is what I call the Commissioner Gordon Syndrome.
In Batman stories, the city's problem wasn't just the Joker or the other villains; the problem was that the police, judges, and politicians were on the crime payroll. Gordon's colleagues mocked him for not taking dirty money; they called him a "fool" for wanting to enforce the law when "everyone steals."
But Commissioner Gordon didn’t arrest criminals because the system supported him (on the contrary, the system wanted him out); he did it because it was his duty. He understood that one is a police officer (or auditor, or another related profession) to protect the law, not to defend oneself. When we accept the excuse that "that's just how the system is" and cross our arms, we admit we are mediocre.
Conclusion
And let me be clear: I am not saying this superficially. I am telling you this because I have been in that hot seat.
I know what it feels like to have to stand in front of company owners or agency heads and tell them "NO" because the law is the law. I know what it's like to feel afraid, thinking that if you remain integral, those decisions can affect your wallet. And still, decide not to give in or look the other way. I have done it, and I have paid the price. That's why I tell you that you can live with less money, but if you have any shame, you cannot live without dignity. Let's stop being the devil's advocates. When we see someone ending up on the street for doing their job—whether reporting fraud, enforcing a regulation, or stopping abuse—let's not look for excuses to rationalize it.
Integrity is non-negotiable. And if the price of fulfilling one's duty is dismissal, then so be it. I much prefer people who make the "status quo" uncomfortable by enforcing the law, than an army of undignified people who sink us deeper while smiling brazenly for the photo.
But the question is: who can change this Gotham City? Well, the answer is simple: YOU. No, Batman is not coming to save us. We don't need fictional superheroes; we need brave people; we need you.
You are the only person who can act with integrity. Dare to be a dignified person of change; Puerto Rico needs you.
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