January 1, 2010
On Dishing it Out

Posted by Jim Lichtman | What do you think?

In the cut-throat world of fine Parisian dining, the food critic is King.  In the Pixar movie Ratatouille, Anton Ego (superbly voiced by Peter O’Toole), is Emperor!  “The Grim Eater” as he is known, strikes fear into the hearts of anyone even thinking about offering a new dish without his “divine” approval. 

In my little niche of essays on ethics, I strive to offer more than “just desserts” for good and bad behavior, I aspire to bring about a greater awareness of the importance ethics plays in our lives and I’m pleased when readers send me their own thoughts.   

Hope in a Time of Uncertainty, (Dec. 28) brought several responses. “...excellent essay,” writes Mo.  “But... why weren't essays like yours being [written] during the eight years of Bush Bashing?”

Looking into my 2008 archives, I came across a few high-handed remarks that I discussed, but overall, I confess to a lack of awareness of any grossly contemptible comments against President Bush.

“You’re right, Mo!,” I wrote. “No ONE should be doing it!”

“Nice try Jim,” she wrote back, “but that doesn't cut it.  Why aren't there examples of all the vicious, hateful, scary things that were said for eight years during the Bush years? .......eight freakin' years and I bet you didn't write one word about it, nor did anyone else on the left.  Mo”

Mo seems to suggest that I may have a bias or agenda to my writings when it comes to politicians or political discourse.  The only agenda I carry is ethics.  I endeavor to point out the good, the bad and the ugly from all sides, and I encourage anyone to hold my feet to the fire if they believe that I am being inaccurate or unfair. (Just click on the link, “What do you think?” at the top of each essay.)

On November 18 (The End of the Road), I wrote that Louisiana Democrat William Jefferson was finally convicted of 11 counts of corruption.  I wrote about Republican Joseph Cao, The Conscience of Cao (Nov. 9) “the first congressman of Vietnamese heritage and a strong social conservative,” who replaced Jefferson in the House.

Last October (12 and 19) I took Democratic Representative Charlie Rangel to task over his failure to “...report hundreds of thousands of dollars in income and assets from 2002 through 2006,” (as reported in The New York Times, Oct. 9.)

Clearly, lack of trust in elected officials is a recurring theme on this site. One reader offered this suggestion:  “How about an ‘Ethical Solutions to America's Problems’ link? Anyone with ideas about how to solve... Republicans vs. Democrats vs. the American people... should write you and you should forward them to congress... No one is happy about this, but the politicians won't fix it.”

Great idea!  Send me your “Ethical Solutions to America’s Problems.” I will compile, edit and send them in a personal e-mail to every member of Congress as well as the White House. 

Nevertheless, politicians are not the only targets of this site. This past year, I’ve written about hype, hope, heroes and villains. I discussed everyone from the Dalai Lama to Dick Cheney, Walter Cronkite to Cheeta, as well as philosophers from Epictetus to Marcus Aurelius.

On October 16, (Rogue Tutors) I wrote about Florida State University President T.K. Wetherell’s statement to the NCAA regarding an investigation into cheating by some of FSU’s star athletes. Wetherell tried to gloss over the issue by saying, “We don’t really believe they cheated.  They got inappropriate help...”

I took a look at Hollywood director and self-confessed rapist, Roman Polanski (No Brainer, Oct. 2) and the petition signed by a list of celebrities which asked, “...in the name of... friendship between our two countries, we demand the immediate release of Roman Polanski.”

However, September’s essay, (Has America Lost its Moral Compass?, Sept. 21) generated the most comments (12) when I discussed “losing the best of ourselves to fear and uncertainty.”

In all these commentaries, I strive to educate, (Speaking of Emperors, Nov. 23); expose, (Hate Speech, Aug. 19); and enlighten, (Heroes, July 22).  I am equally willing to hold a hero’s feet to the fire – as I did when Alex Rodriquez admitted to steroid use after years of lies (Deconstructing the Champ, Feb. 16) – as well as acknowledge when those same heroes turn their lives around as Rodriquez did both on and off the field, (Reconstructing the Champ, Nov.4).

Back to Monday’s Hope, one reader wrote, “It reflects what we all would like to see happen...

“[However] No matter how kind we become, there are sworn enemies out there whose religion sanctions murder, lying and suicide bombing of innocents... I want to think optimistically, as you do, but an overwhelming sense of ‘it is so far out of my control’ that I have found myself... focusing on family, stability and every day joys which include helping others, scholarships for college kids in need, and encouraging our grandchildren who are blessed [with] tremendous talent and have no inkling of the looming dark clouds. 

“My black lab Ruby, who adores me, is my role model.  All she needs is love and for her, there is only happiness ahead.”

And therein lies the answer: each of us may not be able to solve the cloud of terror that continues to hang over the country, a shaky economy or world hunger, but all of us can provide service to others through scholarships, food banks, or volunteering our time and talent in our communities. In short, being the example we wish to see in our community, our country and the world. 

That’s where the real hope lies.

 

 
 

  Reader Comments

Comments by Mo, California, January 2, 2010

Jim, my response is probably too long for your site.  So here are some examples where I think true ethical lapses have been all but ignored by people such as yourself.  

Yes, in some instances they have received a line or two at the bottom of page 18.  Like the outcome of the media's $6 Million investigation of the 2000 election.  When it was reported that there was no fraud on the  part of the Republicans no one ever saw that.  It was buried on the middle of page 17 in the Los Angeles Times.  Jefferson and Rangle are easy-nobody's-going-to-argue-candidates for "no ethics."  I'm wondering about the lack to hold-the-feet-to-the-fire on the following:

  • [Attorney General] Holder: choosing not to prosecute the New Black Panthers for their intimidation actions at the polls
  • The Party of personal destruction with the help of the media:  Palin, Romney, Bork, Alberto Gonzales, Bush, to name only a few.  Remember how there just happened to be all those TV programs about the Mormon church?  How convenient...huh?
  • Tax Cheats:  Geithner, Daschle and two others whose names I can't remember.  And we're being told that paying your taxes is "Patriotic"!
  • Chris Dodd and his buddy: that received deals on their mortgages
  • The above including Barney Frank for receiving thousands of dollars from Freddie and Fannie [and] operating a whore house in his home.
  • Obama's promises of transparency, no ear marks, the public's right to have a five-day opportunity to see what is being passed in the House and Senate. Also no lobbyists in his administration, again, just to name a few.
  • Katrina:  Not laying most of the blame on the governor of Louisiana and mayor of New Orleans. But then, of course, they are both Democrats.
  • Murtha's charge of military atrocities that turned out to be completely false.
  • Larry David of Curb Your Enthusiasm show where due to a medication he urinated on the "Weeping Jesus" picture.
  • ACORN.....enough said.
  • Rahm Emanuel chortling that the fallen economy would be a great political opportunity for the Dems.
  • And then there's the episode of the whistle blower, and I can't remember his name, but it was his job to expose crooks in government and because it involved an Obama friend (Mayor or Governor, I believe) he was fired with Holder stating that he had exhibited senile tendencies.  The case is being fought in court.
  • And going waaaaaaaaay back, Hilary's miraculous $100,000 stock bonanza from $1,000.  Again, not a peep.

I could go on and on, as could so many of my acquaintances. Conservatives are not in-your-face-fighters and we tend to take it, but don't think for one minute that we're not seething. 

Yes, things are changing.  We are beginning to speak up and that's the sort of response that you are reporting as unseemly and unethical.  Quite the contrary, not speaking up is the essence of cowardice.  Political correctness has done more to stifle honest debate and therefore promote anger.  Sometimes that anger comes out as over the top or outright rage.  That's what happens when people are told not to express themselves or are unable to have an honest debate.  Have you noticed that it's only when a Conservative is speaking at a university that the students bang pots and try to shut down the dialogue?

When I told you that I am well-read, I mean that.  Most conservatives are informed.  We are subjected and choose to read and hear all the media.  Liberals on the other hand read the New York Times, The Nation, Moveon.org, Huffington Post, Time Magazine, Los Angeles Times and Newsweek.

Response from Jim, January 4, 2010

Whew! For a moment there, I thought I was in trouble.

It should be noted that Mo is a good friend who knows how to put any political feelings aside and have a good time. She's a lot of laughs, (no, really!) but more importantly, she's the kind of friend who wouldn't hesitate to jump in her car and drive to help anyone on a moments notice.

 

 
 
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