24 January, 2012

Is Integrity Worth Nothing?

"Integrity is worth nothing."
His words shook me to the core, and I am shaking my head in disagreement before the idea has even left his mouth.
Integrity is not dead; it is not worthless; it is alive and thriving in my house if not in the world at large.
However, when I look at my world, I see a political environment that lacks integrity, a business world that lacks integrity, and i am no longer in a relationship with a man who lacks integrity.
I thought I grew up in a world where a person's word was their honor, and people accepted responsibility for their actions and their choices. We held ourselves accountable even if no one else did.
The idea was always to be true to yourself.
That is how I raise my child.
But I see the lack of integrity
I feel its absence
And I wonder what happened to integrity? What happened to us in that we seem to prefer a life without it?

2 comments:

BigLittleWolf said...

Ah. The I word.

I also believe Integrity is alive and well, if swept under the carpet in too many instances, and not spoken of directly (much like honor?).

Recently, I had a discussion of this topic over an opportunity to make a small amount of money - money I could use - but it would involve writing something I simply don't believe in.

Many would call me foolish, but no can do. Some might say If it were for twice the money or three times, then would you do it? and I imagine my answer would be the same.

I still have to live with me. And that matters.

And I also believe we model the world we want for our children through our actions. Daily. All the more reason to live with integrity.

Molly @ Postcards from a Peaceful Divorce said...

I recently experienced an event that shook my core. My daughter's teacher has been arrested on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography and assault on a 12 yo girl. Processing this situation led me to discover that integrity IS very important. And I am so thankful that I have been in my life that demonstrate it, even when others greatly disappoint me.