Pride, righteous anger have no place in debate

Ethics, integrity and transparency are words whose meanings are lost every time a case is allowed into a courtroom where a wronged party feels justified to claim perceived discrimination. How many lawsuits claim sex, race, age and religion as reason for being let go from a job? These are the buzzwords that seem to trigger the only sense of honor in the U.S., based not on a code of chivalry or equality, but on political correctness. Along with that is the idea that everyone is entitled to every expression of freedom possible - not when there is a reason to do so, but because our Constitution and Bill of Rights says we can. When these rights conflict, where ethics, integrity and transparency would determine true assault from damaged ego, we instead have a jumbled mess where in order to avoid everyone's toes we tread heavily upon their heels instead - and we call it a trial, or even politics.

Recently, a Florida man was fired from his job as a cashier at an Okeechobee Home Depot for wearing a pin on his apron reading "One nation under God, indivisible." According to a Home Depot spokesperson, the employee was non-compliant with the blanket policy concerning non-company-provided pins or badges on the aprons. But as the employee had been wearing the pin since March 2008, and had been fired only after he began carrying a Bible with him to read during breaks, he is suing the hardware conglomerate for wrongful termination based on religious discrimination. Now, cases of this nature can be debated for months, and years afterwards - something I will not do here. The truth of the matter is that as the trials play out, more statements will be made, further skewing perceptions on all sides of why this decision was made. More important than the actual settlement is what this type of suit says about our society.

The U.S. is a secular nation, but began as a haven from religious persecution. Our roots are mixed and as we recognize more groups, and attempt to be sensitive to each and every need, right each and every wrong, we create unnecessary issues that plague our lives and hinder further change.

We live by the philosophy that if one can be offended by something, one should be offended. If one feels wronged, one should find a point of moral contention. Perceived offenses should be met with righteous anger, and while contesting them, logical and practical processes should be suspended. The slightest slight should be made as personal as possible, and should anyone question our worth as proclaimed by our own egos, then the rational process is to take everything we can from them, because pride, self-worth and ability are things on which we can put a clear price.

Any philosopher worth his or her salt could blow that chain of reasoning apart without blinking, yet this is the world we have built for ourselves and continue to perpetuate. If one believes they have been wrongfully terminated, one should examine more closely the events that led to said termination. One should question a superior. One most certainly should not push for a media circus based on the assumptions and excuses that begin with "it's because I am (fill in your favorite socio-ethnic group or stereotype here)." Should a private employer note something amiss in an employee's behavior or adherence to policies such as a dress code, termination should not occur after over a year of this behavior. It would also be sensible on the employer's part to consider how termination could be perceived; for example, would I have a reason to write this had the cashier at Home Depot been reading "Twilight" instead of the Bible?

Basically, this entire thing boils down to common sense and standards - two basic principles that seem to have disappeared in recent times, but may well be making a comeback. If people would just think before acting or speaking, I am willing to bet that more than half of the nation's lawsuits could be nonexistent. Understanding when and how to exercise rights, how to show support, how to express opinions in a non-offensive manner - these things help shape the standards and the ethics by which we live. If the world does not seem to have enough of any of these, set your own, and follow them. Life has reasons enough to be angry, offended and righteous - you'd be surprised how much more enjoyable life is when you are not looking for reasons to make yourself miserable, whether your reason is to make a point, or to just garner attention.