Do we really believe what we think we believe?

Continuing on the theme of "Ethics, Do They Really Exist?", I present a second possible reason that we are not publicly declaring our beliefs and behaving in a way that supports them. (Haven't been following this string? Please check out the previous posts, below).

One possible reason contributing to the apparent erosion of ethics is, perhaps, that we don't really believe what we think we believe. Recently in the Mpls/St Paul, MN area, two interesting stories have been reported.

Muslim cab drivers refuse to drive customers carrying liquor.
Christian bus driver refuses to drive bus advertising gay pride.

While these stories have numerous implications, think about what it meant for the individual cab and bus drivers. They spoke out publicly about their beliefs, even though it may have meant loss of jobs, and probably did mean persecution by fellow workers. (Both stories had a happy ending in that the employees were accommodated in their beliefs).

What about you and I? Can we even articulate deeply held beliefs? Have we thought about how they play out in behavioral terms - how they affect our work, our personal relationships, our buying patterns? Do we care enough to ACT on our beliefs? If not, they are probably not as deeply held as we would like to believe.

Where do we draw the lines in our lives? Will we refuse to buy from companies that use child labor? Will we turn down a contract selling supplies to a pro-life clinic or an abortion clinic? Will you refuse to fill a prescription for birth control pills? Obviously I have chosen volatile issues here to make a point, but the challenge still remains: Do you really believe what you think and say you believe?

We ought not complain about the deplorable state of ethics in our midst if we, ourselves haven't articulated and declared by our actions what we believe. "Starting With Me™," ethics will be authentic and visible in my life - SWiM™.