Friday, April 10, 2009

WHERE HAS INTEGRITY GONE?

Since the word integrity seems to have gone the way of relativism, here is an early definition from Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828 Edition:

"Integrity: The entire unimpaired state of anything, particularly of the mind; moral soundness or purity; incorruptness; uprightness; honesty. Integrity comprehends the whole moral character, but has a special reference to uprightness in mutual dealings, transfers of property, and agencies for others."

Cough! Choke! Where has integrity gone? Is it in corporate management? How about politicians? Is it a characteristic of the church? Do we see it in our current president? Do his appointees have it? Do you and I have integrity? When asked if they have high integrity, most people will answer "yes." On the other hand when asked if one's integrity affects their ability to do a job or hold an office, the answer is "no." The real question is, "does integrity really matter anymore?"

Here is a brief list of "polling" questions to get your input. Be honest, please!

1. Have highly publicized corporate frauds ever created justification for our cheating "just a little bit?" We're thinking about little things like leaving work half an hour early, answering personal emails or phone calls during work hours, or requesting reimbursement for a $50 meal when we only spent $5.

2. Does the apparent fact that many politicians don't pay all their income taxes, take contributions in return for favors, or blame others for problems they've created cause us to consider doing the same?

3. Do the publicized actions of fallen religious leaders affect our faith and personal integrity?

Let me know what you think about these issues and I'll discuss your comments in a future blog.