MrsSpringsteen
Blue Crack Addict
Rather telling commentary, perhaps. Is integrity becoming so scare that people don't even know what it means? I think so
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051211...1QVAnlH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-
"But topping the list is a word that some say gives insight into the country's collective concern about its values: Integrity.
The noun, formally defined as a "firm adherence to a code" and "incorruptibility," has always been a popular one on the Springfield-based company's Web site, said Merriam-Webster president John Morse. But this year, the true meaning of integrity seemed to be of extraordinary concern. About 200,000 people sought its definition online.
"I think the American people have isolated a very important issue for our society to be dealing with," Morse said. "The entire list gives us an interesting window that opens up into what people are thinking about in their lives."
Ralph Whitehead, a journalism professor at the University of Massachusetts, said it may indicate the continuing discussion about American values and morality, or perhaps that integrity itself is becoming scarce so its definition is unfamiliar.
"You hope integrity is a word everyone understands," he said."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051211...1QVAnlH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-
"But topping the list is a word that some say gives insight into the country's collective concern about its values: Integrity.
The noun, formally defined as a "firm adherence to a code" and "incorruptibility," has always been a popular one on the Springfield-based company's Web site, said Merriam-Webster president John Morse. But this year, the true meaning of integrity seemed to be of extraordinary concern. About 200,000 people sought its definition online.
"I think the American people have isolated a very important issue for our society to be dealing with," Morse said. "The entire list gives us an interesting window that opens up into what people are thinking about in their lives."
Ralph Whitehead, a journalism professor at the University of Massachusetts, said it may indicate the continuing discussion about American values and morality, or perhaps that integrity itself is becoming scarce so its definition is unfamiliar.
"You hope integrity is a word everyone understands," he said."
Erm. Well, I don't doubt that "integrity", the virtue, is an endangered species, and I'm not surprised that "integrity", the word, is not so well known, but I fail to see what the intrinsic connection between these two would be. "Honesty" and "courtesy" are in trouble these days too, after all, but people still know their dictionary meanings perfectly well. I think it's more that we tend to convey the concepts entailed in "integrity" through other words: clean, upright, trustworthy, lives what he preaches, etc.
Perhaps it's just coincidence, but I have yet to meet an ex-Catholic who doesn't have a hyperacute ear for hypocrisy. I can't really think of anything unique to Catholicism that would explain that, though.
I was playfully responding to melon's observation about himself, not making a general suggestion about the sources of integrity or lack of it. Sorry if that didn't come across. And it was a completely sincere question--I wasn't being sarcastic. I am genuinely curious about whether there might be a subcultural/intellectual basis for this.
) I suppose not, because I'd have no one to return it to. The least selfish and "best" thing to do with the 100 would be to donate it to charity, I would keep it because I'm broke.
