During the past week, I watched a short news clip that left me troubled and disturbed. It was a report from the US Congress where they were holding a Senate hearing on Covid and Dr Fauci. I was watching some US politician letting forth a most brutal attack against Dr Fauci, with the US Senator being foul mouthed and ever so angry.
I thought two things. One, this was not acceptable behaviour for a respected politician in the public forum of exercising his duty. The other, this was a public humiliation of a public servant who led his country in the fight against Covid. He deserves better. I was left wondering - what was going on here?
Even with not knowing all the facts, this scene was so extreme that it took me to the level of asking myself, "Whatever happened to our sense of decency?" Yes, things go wrong in life. Yes, people oppose us or just don't like us. Yes, we all do bad. But, in whatever situation, the challenge is to keep our sense of decency so that we can walk away, being assured of our own worth and dignity.
At the same time, in my own little world, I faced a moral challenge. In my leadership role at Caritas, I had to deal with a personnel issue. Whatever the outcome, I wanted to be fair and just. Yes, someone in my watch had failed in performing their duty, but this did not mean that decency went out the door. In dealing with the person, I was told something about myself that I did not like. I do not know why but I did not become angry and defensive. Rather, I naturally apologised for what may be and moved on. I look back and think - "Thank God I did not attack. Decency can't go out the door."
