2014

Integrity- A New Look on

an Old Principle
A CHALLENGE OF THE SOCIETAL DEFINITION OF A PERSON OF
INTEGRITY
REAGAN BRACKNELL
Reagan Bracknell
1B
January 12, 2013
Integrity- A New Look on an Old Principle
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the term integrity as a firm adherence to a code
of especially moral or artistic values. This widely used term has lost its true meaning, due to the
shallow-mindedness of modern society. Society has narrowed this definition to only applying to
the morals that are right. The right-ness of morals, however, change from person to person.
Men such as Osama Bin Laden and Adolf Hitler are said to be men of pure evil, however with
that evil, they were men of integrity. This shocking comparison is unacceptable in society, for
the modern man refuses to accept the relationship between evil and integrity. This relationship
does not occur often, but can still exist, for men of evil most definitely adhere to their code of
values. A person of integrity does not have to adhere to the morals accepted by society, but to the
morals accepted and created by oneself.
Integrity shall not be confused with a demonstration morality. Morality can be defined as
concern with the distinction between good and evil or right and wrong; right or good conduct,
but not necessarily staying true to the concern itself. Integrity has the potential to apply to
anyone, if the person has stayed true to their own morals and beliefs. The interchange between
integrity and morality demonstration is far past able to be fixed. Modern day citizens tend to
define integrity as only applicable to the people who stay true to the morals that society accepts
and agrees with. This infinitely false definition has tricked people into a want for a creation of
society where all beliefs are identical and inunique. The shallow, small-minded society refuses to
accept that even men of wrongdoing can have integrity. Characters of integrity only have to stay
true to their own morals, even if those morals are considered idiotic, wrong or mean.
Reagan Bracknell
1B
January 12, 2013
Perhaps one of the most integrious entrepreneurs of the modern day, Chick-Fil-A
owner S. Truett Cathy took a stand in religion and Christian beliefs from the start of the business.
In 2012, Cathys son, Daniel T. Cathy, the new COO of the company, due to the passing of his
father, spoke publically regarding one of the most controversial subjects in modern politics.
Cathy, a strict believer in Southern Baptist principles, spoke to the press and public, opposing
same-sex marriage. Cathy said, I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we
shake our fist at Him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage'. In
this quote alone, Cathy exhibited a great amount of integrity, staying true to his beliefs and
morals, despite the rapidly changing society. Although large proportions of former Chick-Fil-
A protested and boycotted, Cathy kept true to the beliefs of not only himself, but of his father
and family before him. This modern exhibition of integrity proves that despite what societys
morals are, one of integrity will demonstrate his own actions, based on his own beliefs and
principles.
Regarding the same topic of Cathys beliefs, another demonstration of modern integrity
was exhibited earlier on, in 1978, when politician Harvey Milk became Americas first openly
gay politician. Milks sexual orientation never became of importance until, during his campaign
for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, uprisings of gay men in the Castro District of San
Francisco started to be handled through violence and legal procedures. These uprisings, such as
gay sex in the streets, and marches for gay rights, provoked public interest in the potential
actions of the Californian politicians. Milk steered clear of the problems for a short while, even
though he himself was in a relationship with a man, gay rights activist Scott Smith. After many
uprisings had been encountered and delt with, Milk decided that, even though many voters and
fellow politicians would not support him, he needed to expose his homosexuality to the public.
Reagan Bracknell
1B
January 12, 2013
Despite hate, Milk was elected to the board, only to be shot and killed days later. Milks legacy
began a revolution of growing gay acceptance in America. The morals demonstrated by Milk
were ones of his own beliefs, despite the fact that most of America despised homosexuality. His
unwillingness to change his position on homosexual rights and marriage, despite the publics
views of him, was a quality that demonstrated his great integrity.Although Milk and Cathys
stances on gay rights are near total opposites, the two men both demonstrated integrity to its full
extent, by taking a stand in their own beliefs, even when society opposed them.
Integrity is not only demonstrated in the lives and actions of real people, however. In the
novel The Lord of the Flies (Golding, William), one of the novels main characters, Piggy. From
the start of the novel, Piggy tells the boys that, in order for their plan for survival to work, adults
need to be there to help and guide them. Following the first time he states so, the other leaders of
the boys, Ralph and Jack, retaliate with the fact that, with a good leader and teamwork, survival
on the island will be simple. Piggy continues to mention the need of adults, throughout the story,
even though the rest of the boys ignore him. When the boys turn to savagery, Piggys point of a
necessity for adults is proven, but proven too late, because the savagery resulted in the death of
Piggy. His integrity throughout the conflicts of the savage boys led to a realization that in order
for a society to function, elders must be there to guide and aid. Piggys demonstration of integrity
is proven by the fact that, although the rest of the boys did not approve, Piggy continued to notify
the boys-turned-savages of the essentiality of adults. Although a not as well-known
demonstration of integrity, Piggys integrious actions prove the fact that integrity can be so,
despite the views and morals of the society surrounding oneself.
One may argue that integrity can only exist if ones actions are true to the acceptable morals of
society. In the cases of Seal Team 6, Abraham Lincoln or Ralph, from Lord of the Flies, this
Reagan Bracknell
1B
January 12, 2013
definition may still apply, but solely to a small portion of demonstrations of true integrity. The
definition demonstrated by the examples mentioned at the start of the essay proves this alteration
of it false, due to the fact that people who stay true to their beliefs, even if those beliefs are not
morally appropriate in society, most definitely show integrity.
The narrow, modern definition of integrity needs to be recreated. Its definition has been
weaved and confused with the definition of morals and ethics. The true person of integrity stays
true to ones own morals, despite the views of the morals by society. Whether the created morals
are ethical is a different matter, however one of integrity does not, by any means, have to obtain
the beliefs and morals that society has accepted as ethically acceptable.