YES, WE SHOULD HAVE SHAME

Joseph Welch once asked Joe McCarthy… 
SIR, have you no decency?

I say we should have shame (in small doses).

Remember the things Robert Fulghum reminded
us that we learned in Kindergarten.

Share
Play fair
Don’t hit
Clean up
Put things back
Do not take things that are not yours
Say sorry
Wash your hands
Flush
Work, learn, drink, draw, paint, nap, sing, dance, & play SOME!

These activities are taught to help us grow into
courteous citizens able to participate in civil society.

Who would willingly encourage their children to…

Hit
Take other people’s things
Keep everything for yourself
Don’t wash
Work, learn, drink, draw, paint, sleep, sing, dance, & play TOO MUCH!

The reason is that when your children do the
above, your baby becomes the kid with whom
no one plays.

Shame provides that inner experience of not
feeling wanted.

We need some shame.

It encourages us to consider apologizing, take
responsibility, confess, and change our behavior.

Kevin in Home Alone realizes even when you are
blessed with the run of the house, ultimately it is
no fun being home alone.

Once we get past a certain age, no one should
have to explain to us that it is wrong to …

Demean those that are weaker than you
Insult people
Bully people
Lie
Cheat people
Take advantage of those without privilege
Cry about petty slights
React and not respond

And if someone does have to explain these things
to us, we should feel somewhat ashamed and
attempt to change our behavior.

And if we recognize and call out bad behavior
because it is disqualifying, we should continue
with that stand.

We can not just overlook disqualifying behavior in
the search of a high-status job!!!

I ask all of us that sanction and normalize the
disqualified and those of us that have earned
disqualification, have we no shame?

We all need some shame.