Category Archives: Virtue

THE CURRENT POLITICAL PREDICAMENT

Posted on January 24, 2012 by stanwiedeman

It may be too simplistic, but it appears that voters are willing to overlook one form of moral indiscretion, adultery, but not another, sexual harassment. Does morality play a role in politics and governing? Should society hold its political leaders to a standard of moral integrity? Which standard?

John Adams believed that morality plays a vital role in the survival of a democratic society. In a speech to the military in 1798, he stated, “We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion.… Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Continue reading →

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BEAUTY

Posted on January 11, 2012 by stanwiedeman

Sydney Spies never imagined that a photo shoot for her high school yearbook would lead to a national new story. Her mother warned her that the shot she selected for her senior class picture might lead to controversy, but even she was surprised by the media attention.
The 18-year-old high school student from Durango, Colorado posed on a staircase, looking back over her left shoulder. Wearing a short yellow skirt and a black scarf wrapped around her torso so that it exposes her shoulders and midriff, Spies portrays something more provocative than usual yearbook fare. Continue reading →

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A REALLY HAPPY LIFE

Posted on July 19, 2011 by stanwiedeman

Many people interpret the Dalai Lama’s message as harmonious with Jesus’ teaching. … Although the two men call for the same behavior and agree on the virtues that constitute the good life, the similarities end there. The sources of these virtues differ in the two religious systems. Christian ethics grounds itself in the character of the personal and moral God. … Buddhism knows no such God. Continue reading →

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THE DIFFERENCE A CAMERA CAN MAKE

Posted on July 6, 2011 by stanwiedeman

I am sure Robert Adams is a great guy. People who know him would probably attest to his integrity. But the fact remains that as he flirted with temptation he lied. He used deceit to present himself as an honest man, What honesty he did display resulted from an awareness that someone had already seen him take the money – a camera. Continue reading →

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MISSING A GOOD PERFORMANCE

Posted on June 21, 2011 by stanwiedeman

Recently my wife and I were sitting in the audience at a dance performance. (Not surprised, are you?) Across the aisle to our right, a group of boys chattered away as we awaited the lights to dim. Their ages ranged from 7 to 12 or so.
I made several observations about this androcentric aggregate of pre-adolescents. They occupied several rows with empty seats on either side and in front and behind them. They were located strategically away from the rest of the audience, as if they had arrived as an identifiable association, like Boy Scouts or a Little League team. Continue reading →

Posted in Civility, Consumerism, Virtue | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments