Humility and sincerity

Listening to politicians, pundits, and self-described journalists, I'm struck by a striking similarity in their behavior.  The absence of humility and sincerity.

While we can disagree on matters of political views and what is best for our nation, we can can also magnanimously assume those with whom we disagree are doing their honest best.  Since we are human, even the best of honest intent sometimes falls well short of expectations or desire.  These shortfalls can manifest as misstatements, errors, and even false utterances.

How one reacts when caught up in a shortfall speaks loudly about his/her character.

Sadly, all too often politicians, pundits, and self-described journalists fail to display unqualified genuine humility and sincerity in such situations.  Rather than humbly acknowledge their shortfall and sincerely take responsibility for their human failures, politicians, pundits, and self-described journalists demonstrate the propensity to obfuscate, deflect, blame others, (occasionally) misrepresent, and otherwise seek to avoid accountability.

I can respect someone who, at the time, honestly believed in what he/she was stating, and when the information or position is later found to be incorrect, stands up and clearly accepts responsibility without qualification.  I may still disagree with their position, but I must respect humility and sincerity associated with accepting unqualified responsibility.

I cannot respect a person in such a situation who, by actions and words, directly or through surrogates, fails to accept humbly and sincerely their own responsibility.

Whether it is a Republican member of Congress, a MSNBC news persona, POTUS, a Fox commentator, or local reporter or politician, failure to display unqualified humility and sincerity when found to be wrong disqualifies forever that person's standing.  No longer will I grant said individual the benefit of assumed genuine honesty when they speak or write.

The absence of unqualified humility and sincerity too sadly disqualifies many who have access to the public discourse in our nation.