Yesterday, like many worldwide, I was glued to the broadcast of Michael Cohen’s congressional hearing. My listening platform was my local NPR station, WHYY in Philadelphia. It is where I go to get accurately vetted news. Essential in the era of post-truth and fake news. It is my safe haven from outrageous claims disguised as fact. As I listened in the car, driving to work, I shook my head in bewilderment that when the dust settles, and the truth is revealed, there will still be some who will 100% stand behind the administration. Although the adage of ‘innocent until proven guilty,’ is always in the forefront, ‘if it looks like a duck…’ comes into play. How do we span the ever-growing bridge between the two? I imagine it has a lot to do with what we were taught about honesty and integrity. Seems to me that those, like Cohen, no icon of virtue, enter into professional relationships with others whose morality is in question. Does his dishonesty discredit his assertion that the president lied, cheated, colluded? Birds of a feather flock together.
Not sure the origin of that paradigm. My parents taught me to check my values and not do anything I would be ashamed of. It meant not taking anything that didn’t belong to me, asking first before touching anything that fascinated me, honoring people’s personal space and boundaries, cleaning up my own messes (physically and emotionally), taking responsibility for my choices. They expected me to tell the truth and if I didn’t want to get caught lying, then I needed not to do what I felt required dissembling in the first place. I learned that actions have consequences. Was I always an icon of virtue throughout my life? Nope. Among my regrets as I gaze back down my timeline now in the 7th decade of my life, those times are where my deepest ones fall. I do my best to own my choices and make amends for them when I have fallen short of my own standards. Still not a candidate for sainthood, just so you know.
I am wondering what seeds were planted in the hearts and minds of those who lie, harm, destroy and kill for a living, like some who sit in positions of power in business, government, and religion. Was it simply expedience and the desire for a quick buck, thrill or being in an elevated position? People are expendable or viewed as less than, pawns in a game that is always set up to lose, but some keep playing. It is one reason why sexual assault is acceptable to some, covered up and explained away. It is one reason why governments justify kidnapping and killing those with dissenting opinions and why the environment is daily threatened with no thought of the future for the next generations. Is conscience expendable?
1a: the sense or consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one’s own conduct, intentions, or character together with a feeling of obligation to do right or be good.
b: a faculty, power, or principle enjoining good acts guided by conscience
c: the part of the superego in psychoanalysis that transmits commands and admonitions to the ego
2: conformity to what one considers to be correct, right, or morally good: CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
3: sensitive regard for fairness or justice:SCRUPLE
Pro-social attitudes are at the core of conscience. When people see each other as being like them, they are far less likely to exhibit harmful behaviors. Conversely, when they view others as alien and foreign, the increase in assaultive words and actions rise proportionally. There are various developmental theories that go into the tool kit that parents and educators utilize to help mold caring and ethically intact people, including those of Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget and American psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg.
As a licensed Social Worker, I am required to take an ethics course every two years. These guidelines were established by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), for the purpose of framing behavior that is both beneficial to our clients and does no harm to them. Each time I sit in the classroom and go over scenarios and structure, the take-home message is, if it breaks confidentiality, don’t do it. If it puts the client in a lesser position and takes away their personal agency and decision making, don’t do it. If it creates a dual relationship (business or interpersonal) or if it is of additional financial benefit to the therapist beyond the established or insurance contracted fee, don’t do it. If it even slightly resembles taking advantage don’t do it.
Rep. Elijah Cummings echoed my perceptions in his closing comments at the hearing yesterday. His telling statement speaks volumes about where this country is on an ethical crash course.
“Our president has made at least 8,714 false or misleading statements. That’s stunning. It’s not what we teach our children. It’s not what I teach my children.”
What price do individuals pay for their willingness to be out of integrity? I am wondering if everyone who chose to work for this administration knew they were selling their souls and figured it was worth the price.
Edie Weinstein, MSW, LSW is a colorfully creative journalist, inspiring transformational speaker, licensed social worker, interfaith minister, editor, radio host, BLISS coach, event producer, certified Laughter Yoga Leader, Cosmic Concierge, the author of The Bliss Mistress Guide To Transforming The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary and co-author of Embraced By the Divine: The Emerging Woman’s Gateway to Power, Passion and Purpose. She has also contributed to several anthologies and personal growth books. Edie has interviewed such notables as Ram Dass, Wayne Dyer, Debbie Ford, don Miguel Ruiz, don Miguel Ruiz, Jr. Marianne Williamson, Louise Hay, Grover Washington, Jr. Noah Levine, Shirley MacLaine, Dennis Weaver, Ben and Jerry and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. She calls herself an Opti-mystic who sees the world through the eyes of possibility. Edie writes for The Huffington Post, Psych Central, Beliefnet, Elephant Journal, The Good Men Project, Expanded Family, Meaningful Mom, Happenings Media, as well as a growing number of other venues. Edie is the founder of Hug Mobsters Armed With Love, which offers FREE HUGS events on a planned and spontaneous basis. www.opti-mystical.com
