“Everybody Does It”

How does politics/the candidates affect you, or how do you affect politics/the candidates?

When a parent admonishes a child for some inappropriate behavior, the child’s response is often, “everybody does it”.  As adults, if we mention to a good friend or family member that their action was not ethically or morally correct, their response/defense is often, “everybody does it”.  If we say that a certain political candidate lies or cheats or….., we hear the “they all do it” response.

By accepting that excuse for ourselves and others is to encourage and condone that behavior.

If we choose the “everybody does it” excuse, to just be like everyone else, then you, no one else, and nothing will ever improve.  Our task, is to constantly remind ourselves and endeavor to always do the good and right thing.  To do that whether or not it is cool or popular.  Sometimes, it’s actually “Hip to be Square ” – Huey Lewis and the News.

 “What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right.” – Albert Einstein

“heroism of ordinary life, being willing to live by one’s convictions though all the world thinks otherwise, being true to the call of eternity, not the noise of now.” – Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

As more and more do the good and right thing, then less and less will we be able to excuse bad behavior with the “everybody does it” excuse.  Eventually, we will say “everybody does it” about the good and right thing.  That would be cool and then it would be “hip to be cool”.

When it comes to our political leaders, it’s important to realize that they are us, or just like us and we are them, or just like them.  Demand more of them and get more from them.   To demand more and better from them begins with us demanding more and better of ourselves.

Heart and Soul