Some days I wonder… can you place a price tag on integrity?\u00a0 Is there something for which integrity will be sacrificed?<\/p>\n
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I caution you not to answer too quickly.\u00a0 My keen sense is that far too many of us actually \u2014 but subtly \u2014 perhaps even unknowingly \u2014 allow a price tag to be placed.\u00a0 The tag seems to slip so easily on.<\/p>\n
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We observe, in fact, the small things, the actions and words that may seem minute, but are yet, fairly reflective.\u00a0 My wonder thus centers around how even the \u201clittle things\u201d chip away at one\u2019s character… at seemingly good people… at even you and me…<\/p>\n
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For example, in the most recent Monday Night Football game \u2014 also known as an incredibly poor display of accurate officiating \u2014 with all due respect to the replacement refs, who truly aren\u2019t experienced in this area (but are finally done, thank God!)<\/em> \u2014 the Seahawks won the game on a last second \u2018Hail, Mary\u2019 heave.\u00a0 The disgrace is that all replays showed a Packer in possession of the ball.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I am struck by the reaction from the Seattle Seahawk faithful… specifically from coach Pete Carroll…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Carroll said as he viewed the play, the Packer defensive back had the advantage in the air, but “when we finished the catch we had the ball, and they had the ball too, so it’s simultaneous…\u00a0 They called it and the league backed it up, and game over, we win.”<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Carroll is obviously loyal to his team.\u00a0 Well done, coach.\u00a0 Yet to act as if he saw something that few outside of suburban Seattle saw is disingenuous.\u00a0 It discredits him.\u00a0 \u201cLittle\u201d as his comments may be, the skewed perspective sacrifices his integrity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But why?\u00a0 Why would someone allow a price tag to be put on integrity?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Friends, this blog is not about sports nor about Pete Carroll.\u00a0 Carroll has led several teams well.\u00a0 My question is why Carroll would act as if he knew something the rest of the watching world did not… that only he knew the complete truth?\u00a0 Would he even, possibly, lie?\u00a0 Perhaps he considers the skewed perspective only a \u201clittle lie,\u201d yet such only serves as a dart in his integrity.\u00a0 The bottom line:\u00a0 why would one sacrifice something so meaningful \u2014 and so difficult to get back?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Carroll obviously had something to gain.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Skewed perspective is rampant \u2014 almost so frequent that we oft fail to notice…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Another example… each month Pres. Obama announces his \u201cjobs created\u201d numbers.\u00a0 Now granted, regardless of who\u2019s in the Oval Office, the Intramuralist is not one who believes government is the creator of jobs.\u00a0 My strong economic sense is that it\u2019s a far more accurate explanation to say that government makes the conditions \u201cripe\u201d or \u201cless ripe\u201d for jobs to be created, with the private sector providing the majority of employment opportunity.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nonetheless, each month the administration announces the jobs government has \u201ccreated\u201d under their leadership.\u00a0 The inherent, arguably disingenuous challenge is that also each month, jobs have been \u201clost,\u201d as a specific amount of jobs must be new each month solely to keep pace with the birth and immigration rates. \u00a0Thus,\u00a0to announce what\u2019s created as opposed to the net gain or net loss serves as an inaccurate picture of the economy. \u00a0Why would any announce only the \u201ccreated jobs\u201d?\u00a0 Why would they not acknowledge that half of the employment picture is omitted from that perspective?\u00a0 … a half that changes the perception of what is actually true.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I return to 3 predominant questions \u2014 questions not just for candidates and coaches, but also, for each of us…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Would we ever sacrifice our integrity \u2014 even with the \u201clittle lies\u201d or omissions?<\/p>\n Is there a point at which a price tag can be placed upon our character?<\/p>\n And are we most tempted when we have something to gain?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Yes… yes… great questions…\u00a0 even more challenging to answer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully,<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Some days I wonder… can you place a price tag on integrity?\u00a0 Is there something for which integrity will be sacrificed? I caution you not to answer too quickly.\u00a0 My keen sense is that far too many of us actually \u2014 but subtly \u2014 perhaps even unknowingly \u2014 allow a price tag to be … <\/p>\n