June 2010 Archive

Helen Thomas retired last week, effective immediately, from the Hearts News Service after the uproar provoked by her shocking and totally unacceptable comments on Israel that I will not repeat.

A colleague at Ruder Finn said to me, “She should have known that in the present context, her statement would have serious consequences.” What present context? Did he mean that her comments were just politically incorrect?

Her comments were outrageous in any context and offensive to all.

The problem with political correctness is that it only addresses what we say (or write) not what we really think or believe. What we think and believe is what really matters. Her apology/excuse is revealing. She said:

“I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians. They do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon.”

She did not elaborate why she regretted her comments nor what was wrong with what she said.

Jack Marshall, an ethicist and lawyer and president of ProEthics LLC (ethicsalarms.com) thinks that Helen Thomas “does think the Jews should get the hell out of Palestine, and in an unguarded moment, admitted it.”

Stewart Ain of The Jewish Week confirmed this when he wrote that Ms. Thomas’ “anti-Israel views were well known among friends and colleagues and have occasionally been on public display.”

It is true that we sometimes say things that we do not mean. But we should ask ourselves whether we are sure that we did not mean it. Maybe, somehow we actually believed what we said.

The most important question of course is what if what we believe is wrong? What if we are prejudiced? What if we do have feelings of hate for an individual or a group?

Billy Graham, the American evangelist and friend and pastor of Presidents from Hoover to Clinton was more honest in his apology about some anti-Semitic comments he had made to President Nixon that was revealed when the White House tapes became public. He said:

I deeply regret comments I apparently made… They do not reflect my views, and I sincerely apologize for any offense caused by the remarks,” and “If it wasn’t on tape, I would not have believed it. I guess I was trying to please… I went to a meeting with Jewish leaders and I told them I would crawl to them to ask their forgiveness.

Abe Foxman of the ADL accepted his apology that he felt was sincere.

We should first be as honest as we can with ourselves.

The Psalmist David exemplified such honesty when he wrote:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Different versions of the “obituary” below have been circulating on the Internet for a number of years. It is actually, according to SNOPES.com, the work of Lori Borgman and was first published in the Indianapolis Star on March 15, 1998. Since Truth, Trust, Discretion, Responsibility and Reason are solid values, I thought it appropriate to post this essay on the Ruder Finn Ethics blog. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;

- Why the early bird gets the worm;

- Life isn’t always fair;

- and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers:
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I’m A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.