Is it too much to ask for some real integrity these days?
As I get ready to rush off to work and enjoy my morning coffee, I am once again reminded by CNN and HLN that real integrity is a rare thing to find these days it seems. The word "integrity" stems from the Latin adjective integer (whole, complete). In this context, integrity is the inner sense of "wholeness" deriving from qualities such as honesty and consistency of character. As such, one may judge that others "have integrity" to the extent that they act according to the values, beliefs and principles they claim to hold.
Given that definition it would appear that in order to have integrity you must actually act in accordance with the values and beliefs you claim to hold. Surely our elected politicians would be one of the most obvious benefactors of this quality. I can almost hear the laughter as I wrote that last sentence. The latest casualty seems to be the ex-Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Now, I am one of the few who actually still like Governor Arnie, and viewed his time in political office as a fairly productive one. The issues of his infidelity arose after his time in office, even though his "love child" has been around for at least 10 years. Anyone who follows politics is well aware that this is nothing new since back to President J F Kennedy, to President Bill Clinton, (who apparently DID have sex with "that woman") not to mention a plethora of senators. As well, I am by no means condoning cheating or worse yet, fathering a child and keeping it a secret. I am however fully aware and reminded that most of these successful men for some reason did experience a lack of judgement, or in my opinion a lapse of integrity and character.
I have been told that I live in a dream world to expect these kinds of people (male or female) to have real integrity and not fall into such depths of judgement, but am I expecting too much? Real integrity implies a refusal to engage in behavior that evades responsibility. It is a discerning of right and wrong, even at a personal cost. It goes beyond a personal "likeability" factor that one may have, and conveys a trust and transparency that almost everyone can see. It is the "IT FACTOR" and is long overdue in today's society.
Perhaps I do live in a bit of a dream world to expect this quality from anyone, but the reality is that I DO! Somewhere along the way we have confused the act of not wanting to be "judgemental" with having a sense of right and wrong. We are entitled and even expected to judge behaviors (especially from our elected representatives). We can only judge others by the same behavior and standards we would expect of ourselves. No one is perfect and forgiveness is always a virtue, but c'mon . . . isn't anyone telling the truth any more?
Maybe our next generation will be a bit more forthcoming with these values
Greg R
Sonlight Ventures (®2010)
As I get ready to rush off to work and enjoy my morning coffee, I am once again reminded by CNN and HLN that real integrity is a rare thing to find these days it seems. The word "integrity" stems from the Latin adjective integer (whole, complete). In this context, integrity is the inner sense of "wholeness" deriving from qualities such as honesty and consistency of character. As such, one may judge that others "have integrity" to the extent that they act according to the values, beliefs and principles they claim to hold.
Given that definition it would appear that in order to have integrity you must actually act in accordance with the values and beliefs you claim to hold. Surely our elected politicians would be one of the most obvious benefactors of this quality. I can almost hear the laughter as I wrote that last sentence. The latest casualty seems to be the ex-Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Now, I am one of the few who actually still like Governor Arnie, and viewed his time in political office as a fairly productive one. The issues of his infidelity arose after his time in office, even though his "love child" has been around for at least 10 years. Anyone who follows politics is well aware that this is nothing new since back to President J F Kennedy, to President Bill Clinton, (who apparently DID have sex with "that woman") not to mention a plethora of senators. As well, I am by no means condoning cheating or worse yet, fathering a child and keeping it a secret. I am however fully aware and reminded that most of these successful men for some reason did experience a lack of judgement, or in my opinion a lapse of integrity and character.
I have been told that I live in a dream world to expect these kinds of people (male or female) to have real integrity and not fall into such depths of judgement, but am I expecting too much? Real integrity implies a refusal to engage in behavior that evades responsibility. It is a discerning of right and wrong, even at a personal cost. It goes beyond a personal "likeability" factor that one may have, and conveys a trust and transparency that almost everyone can see. It is the "IT FACTOR" and is long overdue in today's society.
Perhaps I do live in a bit of a dream world to expect this quality from anyone, but the reality is that I DO! Somewhere along the way we have confused the act of not wanting to be "judgemental" with having a sense of right and wrong. We are entitled and even expected to judge behaviors (especially from our elected representatives). We can only judge others by the same behavior and standards we would expect of ourselves. No one is perfect and forgiveness is always a virtue, but c'mon . . . isn't anyone telling the truth any more?
Maybe our next generation will be a bit more forthcoming with these values
Greg R
Sonlight Ventures (®2010)
