People Can Change

Because of media bias, you won't hear this story on ABC News, nor on CNN's Larry King Live. So this story was obtained from WorldNetDaily.com instead. It's about Michael Glatze, who is a prominent gay activist & editor of Young Gay America magazine. He lived the homosexual lifestyle at age 16. But at age 30, he found God, or rather, God found him. He said his conversion was the most liberating experience in his entire life. He further stated that he had been leading a movement of sin & corruption, that homosexuality prevented him from finding his true self, that homosexuality is lust & pornography wrapped into one, and that it destroys young minds. So he abandoned his homosexual lifestyle. Now that he has a personal relationship with God, he was no longer confused, afraid, nor upset. So this story is proof that there is hope for people to change.

Does the End Justify the Means?

I read an article about a priest who ran for political office, in another country, to eliminate political corruption. This is forbidden for priests, but he did it anyway. So he believes it's OK to break the rules if he has good intentions. This way of thinking is common in that country. But it leads to the same corruption he wants to eliminate. What if someone offers him a bribe, & tells him to think of the poor he can help with this money? A priest is not immune from temptation. So what will stop him from justifying acceptance of the bribe, if he believes that something "good" can come out of it? Wouldn't this be the same kind of rationalization he used to run for office in the first place? And if he's willing to break any rule he wants, what kind of message is he sending to others? Is he behaving differently from corrupt politicians, who also break any rule they want? While I can understand his frustration, I think it would be more beneficial if he rejects the idea that the end justifies the means, and sets a good example. How? By doing his duty as a priest, & living the virtues, such as obedience. Maybe then, others may emulate him & obey the law, rather than come up with justifications to break it.

Courage Under Fire

My dad told me about his former boss in another country, where corruption was widespread. They had an import/export business. When a shipment arrived, customs officials demanded bribes to waive the import tax. Dad's boss refused, and insisted on paying the tax, even though he knew that the officials would retaliate for his refusal. As a result, he suffered the consequences. His shipment "got lost." I admired the courage of this person, who was willing to stand by his principles and suffer for it. We all complain about what's wrong with the world. But do we have the guts to change it, by doing the right thing and suffer the consequences? This guy did. So did Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mohandas Gandhi. Imagine the possibilities if everyone followed suit.

Want to Change the World? Then Change Yourself.

I work in a very diverse office. People there came from countries in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, & the Middle East. They all lament the corruption that exists in their home countries. This brings to mind a story which my aunt told me about my uncle, who also lived in another country where corruption is common. He was an officer in the military. One day, he took a wrong turn and was cited by a cop for some traffic violation. Usually, when the offender is a military officer, the cop would let you go. If you were not an officer, then you get a ticket. When the cop checked my uncle's ID and discovered he was an army officer, he tried to let my uncle go without a citation. But my uncle was a man with integrity. He told the cop "I broke a traffic rule, so give me the ticket and I'll pay the fine." Imagine what would happen if each individual changed his/her behavior & acted with honesty and integrity. Want to change the world? Then start with yourself.