The news is filled these days with arguments about law enforcement. The president is called on the carpet for a type of spying that, according to his enemies, is illegal; according to his supporters, is clearly legal. Meanwhile, aliens pour across our borders unimpeded, claiming jobs illegally, claiming services illegally, and generally snubbing our law. These, according to their friends, deserve to enter by any means; according to others, may come in, but only legally. The breaking of our law by illegal aliens is a secondary consideration to many legislators. You and I, however, must present clear, legal ID when we apply for work.
Every day, in the United States, hundreds of thousands of politicians and law enforcement personnel ride off to work carrying two opposing standards. Hundreds of thousands of educators walk the halls of our schools carrying two opposing standards. Parents, employers, employees – millions of people make a practice of carrying opposing standards.
What do we mean? The word’s origins speak of a standard as something that was a rallying point; something that stood and pointed the way. What was that something?
Imagine you lived in the Middle Ages. Your nation was going out to battle the enemy. You, too, rode out to battle, and you carried a long, upright pole, on top of which proudly waved your flag – your standard. That long, narrow, tapering flag told everyone on whose side you fought. Conspicuous, as it waved far above your head, it signified your loyalty to your country. It was a rallying point for your comrades. You carried that standard proudly, and you carried only that standard. You never even imagined being crass enough to tack another alongside the standard of your country. Your pole never flew two opposing standards. Such a practice would be treasonous.
Sadly, moral values have so deteriorated in our day that millions never think twice about carrying two opposing standards. Laws are viewed as unbending for the other person, flexible for ourselves. We go into battle waving the flags of both good and evil.
With that image in mind, consider the kingdom of Character. This kingdom also has a standard, found in a list of character traits. These qualities, taken together, form the standard for men and women who live in this kingdom – men and women of Character. Those who carry the standard of Character represent every one of those qualities. They are loyal to these traits. They carry that standard, and they carry no other!
They never, for example, try to fly the flag of white lies and half truths beside the banner of truth and honesty. They know that loyalty to Character means absolute loyalty to every trait of character, whether to their advantage or disadvantage.
I wish I had the ability and opportunity to speak to the politicians of our country – at every level, but especially to those in our House of Representatives and Senate. I would challenge them to choose one standard and carry it proudly. If they represent to their constituents that they strongly require the president to obey the law absolutely, then they must as strongly require every other person within our borders to obey the law absolutely. They may not ride forth proudly carrying both a standard of provisional law enforcement and one of absolute law enforcement. They may not fly two standards simply to garner votes for themselves or their party. They must choose.
Character carries only one standard!
That’s the view from my chair. What’s your view?