If you aren't sure what the uproar is about LA Clippers Head Donald Sterling, a simple Google search will do. Basically he said some pretty horrible and racist things in the privacy of his own home, but didn't realize he was being recorded. These recordings when out on the Internet, and now he is banned for life from the NBA and faces other penalties as well. Whether you think that is just or not, I'm sure we all agree it is significant. Have you ever heard of the Warriors of Virtue? Back in Ms. Busco's 5th grade class she was crazy about these guys. While I don't know exactly what they are (kangaroo aliens?) I do know they stood for things like courage and integrity. Those are some of the principals I learned in grade school. Things like the golden rule, sharing, kind words only, honesty, and being a resposible citizen. Yes I know this sounds like "Mr. Smith Goes To Washington" when Jimmy Stewart is a starry eyed newbie to the hard ball of politics. But seriously, where are these principals in today's professional world? What does my unique 5th grade classroom culture have to do with Donald Sterling and the NBA? Well obviously he along with most of the adults in this whole world including me could benefit from reflecting for a minute or two on what it means to be a virtuous person. Maybe some daily reflection? We criticize Sterling, and yet which of us would be comfy with the AP tweeting out what you said in your house when you thought no one was watching? Would you mind if your conversations from your teenage years were shouted from the rooftops via YouTube or Buzzfeed? The only real defense is virtue. Virtue: living life as if the whole world was watching (my definition). With all the arguments over what Edward Snowden has released about the NSA, the concerns about Internet privacy and big data, as well as moments like Donaldson's case where he is being ousted for life for some words he said in his own home, it is clear to me that perhaps the BIGGEST problem is the fact that many adults in this country really just don't like the fact that they should be living with a bit more virtue in their lives.
I recognize the need for privacy, it is an important issue. But really, if I am living the way Ms. Busco taught me when I was 10 years old what should I really be worried about? Virtue is the only true privacy protection program.
1 Comment
David Williams
5/7/2014 12:57:06 am
Yeh!! Totally agree and I'm not ashamed to say so in public!
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AuthorI am a graduate student in Instructional Psychology and Technology at Brigham Young University. I enjoy writing, hiking, and spending time with my family. Archives
June 2015
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