Modesty, Balance, and Integrity

This concept may sound old fashioned to many citizens in our country. But the ideas in this concept are the way forward for our country, and even the world. I will even call it as: problem solving is more important than polarization. What is polarization? I call it the certainty of ones cause do to the loss of ability to think about others’ courses of action. Those who do not think alike are either illegitimate or stupid, or maybe both. Sounds old. It is. We have not as a human western society changed much since Galileo…well at least we don’t draw and quarter or burn people now. We have our “modern” ways.

Modesty is a good word. It implies many things, but the two most important are part of going forward. Modesty implies restraint from anarchy. And modesty implies learned behavior where one side thinks the other side shares some common value, such as civil discussion.

Balance implies we cannot know all things, and human common sense suggests listening to all sides, and then making some decision to go forward. The almighty come across as knowing all, at least about their subject in its isolation. Often youth and inexperience show their worst aspects in this case. They simply don’t have the experience to restrain their competitive indignation, while older (voting) types wait in the wings.

Integrity is not a learned behavior. We either have it or we don’t. Mostly it comes from our parents, but the culture also plays a part. Integrity means calling a spade a spade. Integrity means saying what we know, and what we don’t know. Integrity means the golden rule.

I did not fall off the turnip truck yesterday. The world is not perfect. Hard work is valued. But so is cunning. Building security and money for one’s Family drives most of us. And change is constant, so the concept of modesty, balance, and integrity will always produce different results over time. This is good, and normal, and very healthy, especially compared to that which is occurring today.

We also share common values that benefit us as a nation and a world. This is why the old time concept of modesty, balance, and integrity is so important for us to go forward to ensuring our progeny have a favorable future.

Is all this practical. Yes. Apply it to President Bush’s strategy and tactics in Iraq, politics in America today, Islamo fascism, social security solvency, and global warming talk. Modesty, balance, and integrity will best guide us to a national consensus. This much we voters can demand, expect, and get. Then we vote.