Monthly Archives: January 2011

Comment of the Day: “Unethical Quote of the Week: Walmart”

The Comment of the Day is on Walmart’s jaw-dropping justification for its new line of make-up for the under-12 set. Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Business & Commercial, Comment of the Day, Education, Family, Gender and Sex, Popular Culture, U.S. Society

Next: A Version of “The Mikado” Without Execution References

For a text-book example of how political correctness, ideology, ignorance and a humor deficit can undermine speech, culture and entertainment, we need look no further than the public critics of the Missoula Community Theater’s production of “The Mikado,” perhaps the best of all Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and one of the very best musical comedies ever written. Continue reading

28 Comments

Filed under Arts & Entertainment, Etiquette and manners, Government & Politics, History, Literature, Popular Culture, U.S. Society

Unethical Quote of the Week: Walmart

Walmart wants to give you the option of making your daughter look like a child porn hooker. Continue reading

5 Comments

Filed under Business & Commercial, Family, Gender and Sex, Popular Culture, U.S. Society

Now THIS Is Incivility…

During the recent eruption of a national obsession with civility in the wake of Jarod Loughner’s shooting rampage—odd, because his actions had nothing whatsoever to do with civility—it became disturbingly evident that most journalists have only a vague sense of what incivility is. Continue reading

3 Comments

Filed under Citizenship, Education, Etiquette and manners, Government & Politics, Journalism & Media, U.S. Society

“American Idol” Jumps the Ethics Shark

Just four audition episodes into the new “American Idol,” it is obvious that the show is done. Continue reading

4 Comments

Filed under Arts & Entertainment, Popular Culture, Professions, U.S. Society

Ethics Hero: Gil Meche

For putting personal integrity and fairness above the almighty dollar, as rare an act in 21st Century America as juggling eels, Gil Meche is an Ethics Hero. Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under Arts & Entertainment, Business & Commercial, Ethics Heroes, Professions

Time to Enforce the Hatch Act on Karl Rove

Now let’s indict Karl Rove and Co., and we will have made progress toward more ethical White House politics. Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under Government & Politics, Law & Law Enforcement

Unethical Quote of the Week: The White House

I don’t advocate starting a war over this, or even making it into a diplomatic rift. Still, what Lang Lang played at the White House was an insult, a calculated one, and for the White House to pretend otherwise is either dishonest, or demonstrates a disturbing absence of sensitivity to the nation’s honor and dignity. Continue reading

4 Comments

Filed under Around the World, Ethics Quotes, Etiquette and manners, Government & Politics, History

Where We Miss Morality: The Unmarried Mothers Disaster

The shame and social isolation that once was the penalty for out-of-wedlock pregnancy was cruel and often unfair, but as social control, it worked. It is not coming back; neither is a strong moral prohibition. For better or worse, we are left with making the ethical arguments, which include telling celebrities like David Letterman, Goldie Hawn and most recently, actress Natalie Portman that we aren’t going to just shrug off their choices to have out-of-wedlock kids and continue applauding them as if there is nothing wrong with it. Continue reading

13 Comments

Filed under Arts & Entertainment, Family, Gender and Sex, History, Leadership, Popular Culture, Religion and Philosophy, U.S. Society

Ethics Heads-Up: When the President Talks About “Investment in Infrastructure,” Pay Attention

Addressing this country’s dangerously decrepit infrastructure will be expensive all right, but it is definitely an investment, and not doing so is irresponsible, short-sighted, dangerous and foolish. Continue reading

5 Comments

Filed under Business & Commercial, Finance, Government & Politics, History, Leadership, U.S. Society