I believe people can change. That's the very basis of Christianity, and I believe it with my whole heart. That being said, I think it's important for us to exercise a bit of common sense and prudence when putting certain people in positions that demand a significant amount of trust and character.
For example, I don't believe that former felons should become elementary school teachers. Sure, you can rob a bank or commit an even more hideous crime and change completely. I really believe that you can, but though those around you can be asked to forgive you, allow you to change, leave your past behind, and reintegrate into society without a lasting stigma sticking with you, I don't think it would be wise to place you in a school full of children. We have to think more about the children than the felon. Because we live in a an imperfect world, I believe that there are certain cases where I think your past behavior should shut a few doors for you.
I believe that the presidency of the United States of America is one position that requires an immense amount of trust, moral fortitude, and character. It is the most powerful post in the world, and the person asking us to place that responsibility upon his or her shoulders is asking us for something absolutely sacred: our trust.
Your character is who you are all of the time. If you are immoral and untrustworthy in your private life that character follows you into your professional and public life as well. You can't check your mind, your thoughts, and your ability to reason at the door or trade them in for a different set of values depending on where you happen to be at a given moment.
If someone has made serious moral mistakes and shown an extreme lack of judgement in his or her personal life, it is possible to change. But please, don't ask us, the American people, to trust you with something as sacred as running our country, changing policy that affects our lives, forging stronger friendships with our allies, and protecting us from our enemies. Don't ask us to just take off our seat-belts and trust your driving skills. When it comes to the office of President, we need someone of UNQUESTIONABLE character.
Newt Gingrich has cheated on two wives and was the center of a mass ethics probe that resulted in him resigning from congress. There are other issues as well. It wasn't "private" Newt that was doing these things while "public" Newt was acting like an angel. Newt Gingrich, a grown adult, made these choices, and now he has to live with the consequences, which include the hearts he broke and the trust he lost. Has he changed and learned from the past? Quite possibly. I don't know. But please, Newt, don't ask us to take this chance on you. The stakes are much too high.
If anyone is interested, I could also write about why his policies are dangerous as well.
There was a period of time in this country when people considered their honor to be "sacred". I think that most of us still do.
"Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. The mere Politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity".
- George Washington, Farewell Address (emphasis added)
4 comments:
Well said.
I like your thinking. And George Washington's! But I don't like Newt's.
I totally agree. So convenient that his change of heart happened just in time for him to run for the presidency (totally cynical of me, but there you go). The evangelical support for Gingrich really bothers me as well (a group of them got together and decided to formally endorse Santorum, but they were quite divided and support for Gingrich came in at a close second). I was listening to one of the heads of the evangelical group describe the process on NPR. He said that the official vote was for Santorum, but that there was also quite a bit of support for Gingrich, Perry, and Bachman. Hmm. Who might be missing from that list? I don't think that Romney is the ideal candidate, but it bothers me that a group of people who talk so highly of morals and values is willing to support serial-adulterer Gingrich over Mitt Romney, who has a spotless record, scandal-wise. I know that we, as Mormons, aren't supposed to be annoyed by this sort of thing, but it still gets to me. Also, on a purely shallow note, I don't feel really excited about having a president named after a slimy little animal. Or whose character resembles one.
Looooovvvveeeeee.
I often think that somewhere in the Bill Clinton Era we, as a nation, became too forgiving of "personal" choices when in fact these choices represent a persons THINKING and ACTIONS on a more public and professional level.
There comes a point when former choices will affect THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. Sure we can forgive, but the "scar" of the sin remains- to remind us to never do it again.
Think BEFORE you act.
Post a Comment