The Meaning Of Integrity
I have been playing around with this overused and misunderstood word. It seems politicians, ministers and other respected adults are struggling with this nine-letter word. What plagues me about this word is what it seems to demand from each of us. I may sound as if I am trying to be an overly analytical adolescent, but I am not. Maybe I would be better described as a cynical teenager making fun of all the adults who are trying to shove this nine-letter word down our throats. I am not angry, but I am going to be in your face about why adults don't practice what they preach.
Integrity means honesty, virtue, honor, morality, principle, uprightness, righteousness and goodness. That's a heavy order for anyone, and most adults talk out of both sides of their mouths when they accuse my generation of not having integrity.
Who are you to tell us what we don't have in the area of integrity? Almost daily the news reveals to the public how another one of our fearless leaders has fallen. We see the plots and schemes of these same people desperately trying to dig their way out of embarrassingly shameful situations. I hear stories about people being so ashamed that they kill themselves to keep from dealing with the consequences of their actions. I find myself disgusted with community leaders, professionals and parents when they think they have the right to demand something of me that they can't even pull off.
Integrity. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing if I can't figure out whether it is even a possibility. Where can I go to find a person with integrity? Is anyone worthy to be called a person of integrity? My world seems to be filled with dishonesty, duplicity, faithlessness, infidelity and deceit. I hear moral platitudes about being the good person. In my world, "bad" seems to be rewarded far more frequently than "noble." Have we all gone "bad" because no one holds us to a higher standard, or is there still hope for integrity in a world full of compromises?
Cynical! Well, yes! Shouldn't I be? I can get away with it, because are you to call me on my conflicting views? I believe my generation is getting dumped on because we seem to be discounted for our lack of respect of authority figures and our disregard of the rules. STOP! Help me have respect for you by being worthy of respect. Encourage me to follow the rules by following them, too. I don't want to hear your stories about what you are getting away with that no one knows. Yes, I am saying practice what you preach. Yes, I am saying that I am scared I will be just like everyone else when I have to be accountable for my integrity.
You tell me that integrity is what my reputation is all about. You tell me all I have is my "good name" and that goes with me forever. You tell me I am the person who has to live with my own conscience. You tell me I need boundaries, measuring sticks and to be accountable and responsible. You tell me I write my future; I believe that you are right. I hope I will figure out how to find integrity to do these things because the way things are going in our world, I have a dim view of there being any hope.
Integrity. What is it good for? Absolutely everything! It is not your fault when I compromise my values. It is mine! I will not lose faith in myself, and I would appreciate it if my generation would stop being slammed for an ever-existing problem. My generation didn't invent the lack of integrity we find in the world. We are trying to pick up the pieces just like every other generation before us has tried to do. Will the people with integrity please stand up?
