Our most respected leaders have exhibited remarkable failings. President Clinton's daliances were discussed and kind of brushed off, we were aghast at the indiscretion of former governor Elliot Spitzer and shocked, absolutely shocked by the extra-marital affairs of Tiger Woods, among others. The examples men in positions of public trust who have been dishonorable in their marriages are legion. While the behavior of these men is troublesome to many, many consider adultery to be a private matter that doesn't or shouldn't affect public reputation. Moral lapses also abound in the financial markets.
With wide-eyed amazement, we wonder how mortgages could possibly have been given without credit checks to people who were destined to default. Now, we are surprised to discover that John Paulson had a hedge fund that bet on the likelihood of a multitude of mortgage defaults. The Securities and Exchange Commission is blamed for lack of oversight. People wonder what possibly have gone wrong.
Has anyone ever heard of character? Not to get all prophetic, and I am not predicting the end of society as we know it ... but our idols have feet of clay. Few moral boundaries remain. Many people are embarrassed and uncomfortable judging men who cheat on their wives, but why not? Hello -it's cheating. It stinks and it denotes dishonesty that doubtless carries over into other areas of life. The same character flaws perpetuate the immoral lending practices that took advantage of relatively ignorant borrowers.
The problem with society is that no one can be trusted. Like the marital contract, our society is bound by an ethical contract. When either contract is breached, the relationship fails. The source of the failure is a destruction of trust. Can you name a politician that you actually and truly trust? If you can name one, isn't there some voice in the recesses of your mind telling you to beware? The hallmarks of honesty that engender respect are rarely taught or valued. The time to start modeling ethical behavior is now, and the modeling starts at home. We have to reclaim moral behavior at home and in the commercial sphere in order to reclaim stasis.
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Bonnie
ReplyDeleteI do agree with your post. I also think that the marriage contract needs updating into the 21st century. More needs to be said before people get married just exactly what is expected from each spouse. Too much is just understood based on principles that go unspoken. When I got married I had no idea, no idea what was expected of me as a step dad. I had no rules no boundaries and I blame myself for that. I think that my unspoken contract stated that I was to pick up the mantle that my predecessor could not fulfill but I did not really think it through as to what being a step dad really means. It's too bad too because there were a lot of trials and tribulations that I had to traipse through before I could enjoy the modicum of success that I have today with my step children. I once said to my wife when I was going through some stressful times with her offspring: I didn't sign up for this. She promptly said: Oh yes you did. She just assumed that I knew what I was in for. And words could not be further from the truth because I never had biological children of my own.
As far as the infidelity issue is concerned I think that human sexuality is not up for public scrutiny. I think of scripture John 8:7 that says in essence : Ye without sin cast the first stone.
Oh and politicians I could not agree with you more they all stink.