Absolutely Out of My Mind
Phil's Mental Musings
Dying Can Boost Your Reputation
12/07/08 09:56 Filed in: Human
Nature
With the recent passing of former
Senator Jesse Helms, we witness firsthand how dying can have a
salutary impact on one's reputation. Shortly after his death, Helms
was widely acclaimed in some media circles for being a "man of
principle" who never wavered from his core beliefs. In general,
these same sources downplayed the exact nature of Helm's beliefs in
favor of emphasizing how passionate and committed to them he was.
It begs the question of whether consistency (or closed-minded
stubbornness) is a virtue in its own right. I don't think so, at
least not in the absence of examining what one is being consistent
about.
And that's what many of these commentators swept under the shroud — the specific nature of Helm's beliefs and principles. It's no minor sleight of mind to praise a person who built his political career on a platform of racism, homophobia and discrimination, but it is a testimony to the power of rationalization that pundits can minimize these liabilities while eulogizing Helms, something they were not inclined to do while he was still breathing. Sure, if you admire bigots, Helms was a great guy. And, no doubt, he did have some redeeming qualities. After all, few of us are monolithically bad or good. Nonetheless, painting a laudable portrait of this guy requires more than a little tunnel vision.
So if you've ever worried that your transgressions will outweigh your positive contributions in the eyes of those you leave behind, relax. Once you're dead, many sins will be forgiven.
And that's what many of these commentators swept under the shroud — the specific nature of Helm's beliefs and principles. It's no minor sleight of mind to praise a person who built his political career on a platform of racism, homophobia and discrimination, but it is a testimony to the power of rationalization that pundits can minimize these liabilities while eulogizing Helms, something they were not inclined to do while he was still breathing. Sure, if you admire bigots, Helms was a great guy. And, no doubt, he did have some redeeming qualities. After all, few of us are monolithically bad or good. Nonetheless, painting a laudable portrait of this guy requires more than a little tunnel vision.
So if you've ever worried that your transgressions will outweigh your positive contributions in the eyes of those you leave behind, relax. Once you're dead, many sins will be forgiven.