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| Integrity (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice.
Day by day, what you choose, what you think, and what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny ... It is the light that guides your way. -- Heraclitus (535 BC-475 BC) Greek Philosopher
I come to you today as a fellow Greek, or a woman who knows the hardships that our everyday life holds for us. I understand that we all have slightly different views on politics, but as Greeks we have always had the same purpose. We stand united as to where we all want Greece to be. I feel really fortunate because HellasFrappe has given me the freedom to analyze my views, focus on my emotions and my fears about this country and its future, as well as express them to all of you. Politics and economy aside, I have spoken to you many times about Greece's achievements, as well as what our weaknesses are as a community. Today, I am here to tell you that there are unfortunately more weaknesses than there are achievements, one of which is a lack of integrity.
Which brings me to the subject of the day... Integrity.
A friend of mine, who is very, very special to me, once asked asked me to analyze my ideas on what I believed integrity is and stands for, and how this can be used as a tool to force change in our societies. Before I analyze the subject to all of you, as well as to him, I must first ask my friend something in return, or rather I should ask him something that I could not determine for myself. How do we as a society measure integrity? After all... Who sets these standards? (Expecting a few comments on that one)
In my opinion, integrity is primarily a purity of mind and heart that knows no deception, it does not understand excuses, it does not comprehend rationalization, nor any coloring of the facts. It is an absolute honesty with one’s self, with one's higher spirit, and the very core of our being.
I doubt it ever completely defined us as Hellenes, because there was corruption in ancient times as well, and certainly it is something that lacks completely from our societies today. In Greece, as with many other places in the world, societies just went the opposite way. People compromised and still do, they rationalize, accept corruption, deceit, and broken promises as being part of an everyday "norm".
Let's make it simpler. Have you ever read and/or seen Robert Bolt’s classic "A Man for All Seasons"? If not, I will give you a small sample of the theme of the play. It is quite an intriguing story. When the play opens, the following words are muttered “Every man has his price! (bla, bla, bla, bla, bla). The theme of the play, is just a mirror to the theme of life.
Which brings us to the juice of this article.
Are there people out there who refuse (or have refused) to be bought, whose integrity is beyond any price?
Question: Does honor have a price to begin with?
There can only be one answer to that.
It shouldn't.
Think about it, when all the scaffolding is removed, I believe that it is our integrity that both defines us and identifies us. So why do we as a society find it completely "normal" to cheat on our taxes, our friends, our families and even ourselves?
Is it all for money?
Hate to break to you Frappers... But it is!
It is always about money.
We have allowed ourselves to be seduced by paper, and a sick system, where money talks... And bullsh**t walks.
We see money as success, and not as a tool to survive.
Money does not define success, nor does it give man integrity.
And this is what needs to change.
As societies we can vote laws, elect new men and women in government, and even move to a secluded island and live like hermits... But if we do not first embrace change and begin living with a set of principles, and by example, then we will continue to generate corrupt societies where this phenomena will continue. We will become everything we loathe, everything we hate, everything we detest. Our leaders, who we continually characterize as being corrupt are a mere reflection of ourselves.
Is it worth it?
Why should you or I be the ones to change the world?
Oh get a grip on things folks!
Men and women of integrity are steadfast and immovable because they based their lives on principles. They stand out in society and are the only ones who will be signaled out and remembered years from now. All of those who lack integrity are like the shifting sands of the Sahara Desert. Flip-floppers. One day they are here and the next day they are somewhere else, all because of a me-me-me disease and never an "us". They will continue to live their lives like that, and will never embrace change because it is too powerful for them to handle.
In Greece, this "me-me-me" cancer undermined every business transaction and every family, and social relationship it touched.
It is also what separated the Diaspora from the Greeks in Greece, because for most of the Diaspora it has always been an "us" attitude -as far as the Motherland is concerned-, whereas in Greece -and since the early 80s- the "me-me-me" syndrome dominated society.
And we all know, when there is a "me-me-me" society, there can be no integrity.
And before you start finger pointing, keep in mind that this is not just a "Greek" problem.
Integrity does not exist anywhere in this world.
Example: Attorneys who bill for hours of service that they never render is not a Greek problem it is universal. Public health care workers who recommend procedures that are never needed occurs practically everywhere and teachers who cannot prepare lessons but are keen on pocketing their paychecks anyway is something that is not new. It happens all over the world.
And if you think that you are innocent and are above this all then again. When was the last time you slacked off from work and then expected full pay? Maybe you even skipped work one day, or phoned in sick when you were really out with your family or friends. Did you have integrity?
So back to my friend's question. How can society change by embracing integrity?
First we have to accept that it is an all-or-nothing way of thinking and either we run our life based on integrity or we don’t.
Then we need to educate ourselves and especially the younger generations to develop integrity within. The life of the mind is after all almost a lost concept; so we need to revive it and cultivate it.
But for this to happen, we need education, education, education.
And remember wise men cannot emerge overnight, so the best way to help ourselves and future generations to get there is to begin living by example today, to be patient and consistent.
I think Socrates said it best when he once said:
"There is only one currency for which all these tokens of ours should be exchanged, and that is wisdom. In fact, it is wisdom that makes possible courage and self-control and integrity or, in a word, true goodness, and the presence or absence of pleasures and fears and other such feelings makes no difference at all, whereas a system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true."
Signed
Marina Spanos
*Special thanks to my very special friend Chris for asking me to write this article. As always he challenged my mind and turned it into a pleasant learning experience.
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