"When I refer to integrity, I have something very specific in mind. Integrity, as I will use the term, requires three steps: discerning what is right and what is wrong; acting on what you have discerned, even at personal cost; and saying openly that you are acting on your understanding of right and wrong."
While this may not of been her exact definition in the story she worte, because she talked a lot about what integrity was, but this is the example of the word that stood out to me the most. The reason it stood out to me more so then any of the other definitions or examples is because when she said "acting on what you have discerned, even at your own personal cost." When I read that I feel like I'm not the only person that feels this way so in a way I relate to it. I strongly believe in the responsibility for ones actioins. Like the example she stated about the couple having sex and him saying if you get pregnant its not my problem. So then don't do it, or make sure your responsible enough and ready to take care of a child if your going to be fooling around setting yourself up for something you might not want or even be able to handle. I hope that makes what I'm trying to say sort of clear.
I think the way she describes integrity is awesome. I completely agree with it throught out the entire essay. Lying and integrtiy sort of go hand in hand. When I think of integrity, or the way I thought about it before ever reading this article, when someone would say the word integrity, I would automatically think honesty. That's what most people think I believe, growing up that's what I was tought in school is that having integrity was being honest. And I like how the author states all of the things because I agree with her. Integrity is honesty, doing the right thing when no one is watching. Not just being honest to others but honest to yourself. Like W. Clement Stone said "Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing simply because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity"
Hi Haley,
ReplyDeleteI loved the quote you used at the end of you writing. W. Clement Stone said “Have the courage to say no. “Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing simply because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity. I like this better then the whole article we read in regards to integrity. I think that the way Carter described in integrity left to many questions. I also have to say that I disagree with the author and yourself in regards to this statement. Integrity is honesty. I do not believe that just because he person is honest it does not mean that they have integrity. Carter gave a perfect example of how being honest can also show you have no integrity. Carter talks about the man who cheats on his wife then unburden his soul be telling her. “In trying to be honest he has violat¬ed his marriage vow by acting to¬ward his wife not with love but with naked and perhaps even cru¬el self-interest”. Stephen L. Carter (Atlantic Monthly, Feb. 1996, p.74. I would not say that this man had any integrity just because he was honest. I also liked what you said about integrity that you have used it “even at personal cost”. Hailey he should have talked to you first, maybe he would have gone to the grave with his secret and spared his wife all that pain. Thanks for sharing your insights. Stacy
Hailey,
ReplyDeleteBefore this assignment I too connected the word integrity with honesty. When someone would say integrity, I would think of truth and being true. But now I get the feeling that following through and a person of action sticking with their commitments in conjunction with honesty will build into integrity over time. It is not achieved as easily as honesty. Thank you for your time.
Hi Hailey -
ReplyDeleteI agree with you the majority of people do believe integrity to mean honesty but as we have learned it is just a portion of the definition. Many people like to speak about how they would handle a situation that requires deciding what is right or wrong. Yet a large percentage of those people have not had to act upon their decision.
Thank you,
Sarah Baker