Honor and shame

Honor: honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions: A man of honor.


Shame: the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something dishonorable, improper, ridiculous, etc., done by oneself or another: She was overcome with shame.


At a social event over the past weekend, the state of our great nation eventually, if not inevitably, became the topic of conversation. One of the guests observed that we wouldn't have so much with which to be concerned if honor and shame were the norm. His observation left me shaking my head in a north-south manner, agreeing as I immediately thought of those matters and issues that create in me the greatest amount of anger and disgust.


Whether it was a boss at a major public university who was absent days on end over a period of years; a politician deliberating lying about a candidate from the other political party; a candidate seeking the party nomination to run for the office of President of the United States lying about "landing under gunfire;" the pundit declaring an individual with whom he disagrees is "evil;" an activist declaring every criticism of POTUS is based on racism; the union chiefs who use political clout to forcibly take "dues" from unwilling members and then use the money to finance political activity; the church slandering the fallen American serviceman; the POTUS false declaring "if you like your health plan, you can keep your health plan;" the politician sending pictures of his private parts to women; FLOTUS traveling expansively and expensively on the taxpayer dime; the military officers accepting bribes comprised of hookers and cash; the entertainer simulating sex while on stage; the POTUS who declared he "did not have sexual relations with that woman;" the senate majority leader failing to bring legislation to the floor for an up or down vote; the members of Congress who bundle together omnibus bills to deflect their votes; students at universities demanding changes of commencement speakers; the extremists who sue to remove the cross from any display; the senior GAO manager partying lavishly on taxpayer funds; the IRS senior manager deliberately targeting groups applying for tax exempt status; university administrators and faculty who declare limitations for "free speech zones" and activities on our campuses; activists asserting every ill is based on "homophobia;" members of Congress who perform the country's business for only three days per week, then fly home to continually campaign and fund raise; any of the other intolerant miscreants who demand this and that from their fellow citizens, under the guise of tolerance and diversity; and public officials who act boorishly.


I offer that if these individuals and others acted with honor and were concerned about personal shame, then a lot of what ills this country would disappear overnight. As the above definitions from dictionary.com indicate, all too many folks demand honor from others, yet fail themselves to meet the standards of honesty, fairness, and integrity. And it is patently obvious all too many folks act without shame, as they act dishonorably, improperly, ridiculously, etc. The lack of self-control these individuals display is astounding.


Acting with honor and being fearful of person shame are terrific guides for our daily lives. And doing so does nothing to limit our ability to forthrightly debate matters on which we disagree, whether it be public policy, art, science, or taste in music. Hyperbole and demagoguery would disappear. Outlandish, repugnant behavior would diminish. Perhaps the rate of children born out of wedlock would be reduced. Respect for one another, even when disagreeing with opposing views, would increase. Work productivity would increase. Maybe public education would improve. Self-value and esteem would skyrocket.


Just two guiding principles can make an enormous and positive difference in our society.


Honor and shame.