Demanding Integrity and Respect

If someone was to ask you what the most important qualities would be in a friend, what would you say? My guess is that among those qualitites would be integrity, honesty, loyalty; someone who would be there for you whether you were a millionaire or whether you were completely broke. Someone who would be there with you to "hold your hand" through life's storms. Isn't this the kind of friend we all want?

So what has happened to our people, our nation, our corporations and our world? Are we the kind of people we would want to "hang around" with? Are we the kind of nation other nations look up to? Are our corporations ethical and demanding of integrity? More than ever, I would have to say not even close.

This week's uproar about Don Imus and his radio show bring some of this to light. Do we expect someone with his media power to show some integrity and respect of others? Do we expect it from any of the media in general? No, I don't think we do. We have settled for less and we have accepted much less.

In response to the Imus story, Rosie O'Donnell seems to feel that the "thought police" are coming, and free speech is being infringed upon. Please, Rosie...what can you be thinking? Free speech does not mean that corporations have to pay people to be on the radio or television, spouting off racial slurs, hate speech, conspiracy theories or anything else they care to rant about. Free speech means you can definitely do this in your front yard, but no one is obligated to actually pay you for it!

Few would argue about the lyrics of today's rap music and the way it celebrates crime, degradation of women, racism and more. So why are we accepting it? Why do we not have enough self respect to insist on better? To demand better?

The same applies to our politicians and business environment. I think we have become so used to putting up with the dishonesty and disregard for the will of the people that we feel we have to accept it. No, we do not! It is time for us to demand more, in every area of life. To those whom much is given, much should be expected. Of course, they will make mistakes and be all too human, but we should at the very least expect our leaders to be making every effort to be people of good will and integrity.

I implore everyone to take a stand starting today...people of any race, religion or political party. Do not accept this culture for one day longer. It is time to be the type of friend you want to have. It is time to be the kind of coworker you would like to work next to. It is time to expect and demand the same from those around you. Stand up. Be all you can be and encourage others to do the same...

In peace and love-