Global Integrity--24

Living in Integrity

Moral Wholeness for a Whole World

Marley's Ghost, from Charels Dicken's A Christmas Carol (1843)

“The air was filled with phantoms, wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and moaning as they went. Every one of them wore chains…none were free…The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power forever.” 

Integrity is moral wholeness—living consistently in moral wholeness. Its opposite is corruption, the distortion, perversion, and deterioration of moral goodness, resulting in the exploitation of people. Global integrity is moral wholeness at all levels in our world—from the individual to the institutional to the international. Global integrity is requisite for “building the future we want—being the people we need.” It is not easy, it is not always black and white, and it can be risky. These entries explore the many facets of integrity with a view towards the global efforts to promote sustainable development and wellbeing.

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Living in Integrity as Global Citizens
Trio Gathering 16

In this entry we invite you to connect with the recent Trio Gathering at our home. Have a look at how we are engaging in the topic of global integrity with a diverse group of colleagues in the Geneva area.
 

Trio Gatherings (2013-current)

Trio Gatherings provide a relaxed place where colleagues can interact on important topics for mutual learning and support. They are informal and not sponsored by any organization/group. The gatherings are part of our commitment to encourage “global integration”—connecting and contributing relevantly on behalf of the major issues facing humanity and in light of our core values. The hosts (Michèle and Kelly O'Donnell) are consulting psychologists working in the areas of personnel development for international organisations, humanitarian psychology, anti-corruption advocacy/action, and global mental health.

Background and Content

Global citizenship is both a concept and a growing commitment that emphasizes our common identity and responsibility as humans. The Trio Gatherings this year (2016) focused on what it means to be global citizens, including educating global citizens, eradicating poverty, promoting peace, and living in integrity. Four of the main materials we used to guide our interactions: the Gyeongju Action Plan: Education for Global Citizenship (from the UN DPI/NGO), Poverty Inc. (film), materials from Geneva Peace Week, and various materials on integrity (10 pages).

Summary of Trio 16

Saturday 10 December (10:00-13:00) was the date for Trio Gathering 16. Thirteen people from various backgrounds participated (e.g., UN, civil society, health, education, business) The overall theme was Living in Integrity as Global Citizens with the particular focus being Moral Courage. We prepared some concise materials to guide our interactions and in consideration of Sustainable Development Goal 16, International Anti-Corruption Day (9 December), and International Human Rights Day (10 December). Our desire was to encourage us all to be people of integrity who as global citizens resolutely do good and courageously oppose corruption at the individual-institutional-international levels.

“Fighting corruption is a global concern because corruption is found in both rich and poor countries, and evidence shows that it hurts poor people disproportionately. It contributes to instability, poverty and is a dominant factor driving fragile countries towards state failure.” UNDP and UNCOC (2016)

We found our group interactions to be very thoughtful and challenging. As the group discussed integrity, we moved beyond more general definitions towards the deeper essence of character, morality, and living congruently with our core values and our “best selves”. We watched a challenging TedxTalk by Mukesh Kapila on Courage or Cowardice, based on his personal struggles and eventual resolve to blow a whistle as a high-level UN official on the atrocities in Sudan.

Take Aways for Michele

1. A message I picked up from our interaction is that character is key to integrity. Integrity is developed over time when we are faithful in the small things, or in other words, when we consistently choose to do the right thing. I wonder what influences subtly erode character, including my character, in contemporary culture, and why?

2. I am struck by the important role of deep reflection, which includes looking back over our lives to see the way forward, when we are at critical crossroads and decision points. I think reviewing the impact (positive and negative) of our personal history and past decisions in this reflection process is instructive and helpful. I want to make more space for reflection in my daily life.

3. Two meaningful quotes from Robert Jackall, Moral Mazes (2010)

“... bureaucratic work causes people to bracket off, while at work, the moralities they might hold outside the workplace... or privately and to follow instead the prevailing morality of their particular organizational situation. As a former vice-president of a large firm says: ‘What is right in the corporation is not what is right in a man’s home or his church. What is right in the corporation is what the guy above you wants from you.’

... Actual organizational moralities are thus contextual, situational, and highly specific, and, most often, unarticulated.”  (2010)

Take Aways for Kelly

1. I was encouraged to hear several talk about the personal challenge/responsibility to live in integrity. And that corruption is not just about the bad people, bad leaders, and bad systems “out there.” A drop of hypocrisy pollutes integrity. But a drop of integrity does not purify hypocrisy. ‘Like a trampled stream and a polluted well so are righteous people who give way before the wicked’ (Proverbs 25:26).

2. I am especially challenged by these quotes from the readings:

--“When we make mistakes, we must calm the cognitive dissonance [inner disharmony between our ideal self and actual self] that jars our feelings of self-worth. And so we create fictions that absolve us of responsibility, restoring our belief that we are smart, moral, and right—a belief that is dumb, immoral, and wrong.” (Tavris and Aronson, 2007)

“The air was filled with phantoms, wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and moaning as they went. Every one of them wore chains…none were free…The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power forever.” (Dickens, 1843) 

 Applications

Watch the 14 minute TedxTalk on Courage or Cowardice.

--How can the issues raised support your living in integrity?

--How do the issues raised affect your living in integrity as a global citizen?

Pax Dei--Living in Peace 1

The Non-Noble Non-Peace Prize

 

Sarin gas attack near Damascus, August 2013.

Note: the video is graphic and disturbing.

http://www.youtube.com/verify_controversy?next_url=/watch%3Fv%3Dn2GPTqxf8rE

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 We think it would be good to award a Non-Noble Non-Peace Prize. This prize would go to an egregious entity that makes a significant nd destructive contribution to undermining peace in the world and ruining human lives. One possible candidate for the first recipient(s) would be the entity—that is, people—who actually manufactured and sold the chemical products to Syria (and other nations) so that horrific weapons of mass destruction could be created, stockpiled, and utilized. The citation for the prize could read:

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“Congratulations on your corruption
--your intentional cowardice, complicity, and cover-ups-- 

in promoting massive crimes against fellow humans.”

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Yesterday the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) “for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.” This Prize has been awarded annually since 1901 to entities that have "done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Peace_Prize)

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The official press release from 11 October 2013 provides some background on the use of chemical weapons and hence the relevance of this year’s prize:

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 “During World War One, chemical weapons were used to a considerable degree. The Geneva Convention of 1925 prohibited the use, but not the production or storage, of chemical weapons. During World War Two, chemical means were employed in Hitler’s mass exterminations. Chemical weapons have subsequently been put to use on numerous occasions by both states and terrorists. In 1992-93 a convention was drawn up prohibiting also the production and storage of such weapons. It came into force in 1997. Since then the OPCW has, through inspections, destruction and by other means, sought the implementation of the convention. 189 states have acceded to the convention to date. The conventions and the work of the OPCW have defined the use of chemical weapons as a taboo under international law. Recent events in Syria, where chemical weapons have again been put to use, have underlined the need to enhance the efforts to do away with such weapons. Some states are still not members of the OPCW. Certain states have not observed the deadline, which was April 2012, for destroying their chemical weapons. This applies especially to the USA and Russia. Disarmament figures prominently in Alfred Nobel’s will. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has through numerous prizes underlined the need to do away with nuclear weapons. By means of the present award to the OPCW, the Committee is seeking to contribute to the elimination of chemical weapons.” (http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2013/press.html)

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Pax Dei

Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 34: 11-14, NIV

MC New Year(nings)--5

Loving Truth and Peace

A new year's toast--to loving truth and peace.  
Napa Valley, California. ErinOD (c) 2012

In our lives:

Love truth and peace.

In our hearts:

Love truth and peace.

In our relationships:
Love truth and peace.

In our spheres of influence:

Love truth and peace.

Even when it is scary and risky:

Love truth and peace.

Even when there are negative consequences:
Love truth and peace.

Love truth and peace
and people.

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Do not fear. These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judge for peace in your courts. Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury, for I hate all these things, declares YHWH....Therefore, love truth and peace. (Zechariah 8:14-19, excerpts, circa 520 BC)

Member Care and Resiliency—Part 5

High-Virtue Humans

Virtrio: A trio of core virtues.
(goodness)

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Human resiliency is the ability to face reality:

to deal with and grow through life’s challenges.

How resilient are you?

You may never know until you confront evil.

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Member care is primarily concerned with promoting health by practically supporting mission/aid workers. It involves doing good by carefully and competently helping workers grow.

At times our member care work may also require us to engage in the difficult task of confronting personal/systemic dysfunction. Big matters or even small matters, no one likes to do this. ‘Someone else will handle it,’ ‘This is too complicated,’ or ‘Just wait a bit and it will hopefully go away,’ are some of the default reasons for not getting involved. Our reticence to tackle “tough stuff” is even more apparent when the stakes are raised and we are faced with the choice of whether or not to confront serious deviance and evil.

The trio of virtues in the virtrio illustration above (perseverance, honesty, and courage) are essential for dealing with life’s challenges. These three qualities are core parts of “high-virtue humans”—virtrios humans—who excel in moral goodness. They are especially necessary when we encounter evil in all of its forms, be they blatant or disguised.

Evil is not the opposite of good but the distortion of good.

Sadly, distorted forms of good may go undetected for a long time.

Resilient virtue is needed to confront the many facets of such evil.

Resilient Evil and Resilient Virtue

Evil is also resilient. One recent example of resilient evil is the long-term fraud promulgated by Bernie Madoff. All the “good” he was doing to benefit investors-colleagues was actually faked. The deception has come back to haunt the business and banking sectors, university endowment programs, and many private citizens across the world. Unfortunately Madoff’s scheme was both resilient and malignant, a horrific combination.

Contrast Madoff’s despicable behavior to the praiseworthy actions of Harry Markopolos. Markopolos and his colleagues spent 12 years tracking Madoff, convinced about the illegitimacy of his money-making scheme. They persevered. They sought transparency (honesty). They were courageous. They were virtrios humans whose skills and resilient virtue, in spite of being ignored for years, eventually helped to expose the evil.

Trimangles

As we have seen in the previous entries, resilient people have inner strength, good social support, and a sense of purpose and/or trust in God. These qualities have been essential for several of us as we have confronted a grievous situation within parts of the international Christian community that has striking similarities to the Madoff case: major fraud. We have all had to muster plenty of virtrio (perseverance, honesty, and courage) in the face of a malicious “trimangle” of corruption (collusion, cover-ups, and cowardice). As the author of Hebrews says, ‘God hates wickedness just as much as He loves virtue’ (Hebrews 1:9, Jerusalem Bible). Created in His image, the same disdain for evil and passion for good is true for us.

Trimangle: A trio of core evils.
(corruption)

We as a group have learned that prudently confronting trimangles (unmasking/exposing/reproving darkness, as commanded in Ephesians 5:11) is not without its risks. Defamation, dismissals, and distress historically accompany the actions of virtrios humans. We have also learned that the levels of risk and fear are not the main criteria for determining whether an action is right or wrong. Do not be afraid to go public as you stand up for what is right, Christ says. For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. Do not fear intimidation, discrediting, loss of livelihood, and even loss of life. Your task is to be true, not popular. I will take care of you. (Matthew 10 and Luke 6, paraphrases from The Message).

Resilient virtue: perseverance, honesty, and courage

prevails against

Resilient corruption: collusion, cover-ups, and cowardice.

Governments have an important responsibility in matters that involve major deviance/evil. So also do virtrios humans in civil society (e.g., media, regulatory bodies, organizations) and the Christian community (church, mission agencies). All three entities have a major and often overlapping responsibility to deal transparently and skillfully with trimangles. The exploitation of people (corruption) via joint deception (collusion), distortions of facts (cover-ups), and avoidance of responsibility (cowardice) do not simply go away on their own. They are resilient too. The world will not be any more safe—or virtuous-- until virtrios people act to make it so.

Courage.

Trust God.

Stay the course.

May you espouse virtue and expose evil.

Quotes, Notes, and More

1. Conference. Here is a summary of a presentation that we have proposed. It complements the resiliency theme from last year’s Mental Health and Missions Conference (19-22 November 2009). The title is Future Directions for Member Care: Going and Growing as Resilient Practitioners.

“What lies ahead for the member care field, and indeed for our world at large? In this presentation we discuss future challenges and opportunities for member care. The field needs “good learners-practitioners” who are growing in their character (virtues and resilience) and competency (skills and knowledge). These folks need to be willing to “cross sectors” (e.g., international health and humanitarian sectors), cross disciplines (e.g., human resources, management), and “cross deserts” (e.g., internal journeys of faith and struggle) in order to work effectively in unstable locations often permeated with conflict and calamity. These diverse, resilient, member care workers will have clear ethical commitments as they provide/develop quality services to mission/aid personnel in many cultural settings.”

2. Book. Here is another brief quote is from John Fawcett’s edited book, Stress and Trauma Handbook: Strategies for Flourishing in Demanding Environments (2003—click here to see a book review).

“Faith-driven or secular, the workers who bring aid to individuals, families and communities are the living embodiment of a human conviction that wrongs not only must be righted, but they can be righted." (p. 1).

3. Video. Have a look at this short photo report from the World Health Organization (WHO)—2009 Year in Review: Key Health Issues. The 12 photos and brief descriptions reflect some of the concerted efforts of humanity via the WHO to tackle major health issues facing the world. Other examples of personal stories and international media reports are listed on the Media that Matters section of our Member Caravan website.

4. Tool. How courageous are you? Consider this question via Matthew 10: 24-33. Christ addresses the importance for his followers to speak the truth openly and to identify with Him publicly. Have a look and give some examples where you have had to deal with fear and act with courage.

**Don’t be afraid:
a. of being discredited and maligned (v. 26)
b. of being killed (v. 28)
c. of being undervalued and overlooked (v. 31).

**Be courageous:
a. by confessing Christ without waver (v. 32)
b. by loving Christ more than anyone (37)
c. by taking up our cross and giving your life for Christ (38,39).

5. Music. Two songs by Dougie MacLean.

Ready for the Storm. Dougie is an incredible folk musician from Scotland whose songs are creative, beautiful, and inspirational. He is joined by Kathy Mattea, another gifted musician, and others in this video version of the song, circa 1995/1996.

No No No by Dougie is a powerful call to confront those who exploit people. To listen you must purchase/download this song on the artist’s site, for about one dollar. I think it is really worth it, as is the 1990 album on which it first appeared, Whitewash.

Reflection and Discussion
1. Give an example of a vitrios human that you know. Which virtues contribute to his/her resiliency?

2. How are virtues and developing virtues related to the fruits of the Spirit and walking in the Sprit (see Galatians 5:22-25)?
3. Discuss the notion of trimangles in terms of your personal or work experience.

4. Is resilient virtue always stronger than resilient evil?

5. Which of the above “notes, quotes, and more” are the most meaningful for you and why?