The Smallest Pebble

A great man once told me that

 “Integrity is what you do when no one is around.” 

It’s funny, the little quotes that stick with us as individuals. How simple words can move, alter, and even help to create our very foundations.  I sometimes wonder why I justify my short comings and allow them to reign, but it is easy to forget that I am human, and am not designed to live entirely perfect.  With that being said I should always strive to live as good and as pure as I can.  The most important part of living with integrity is defining what pure actually means to us as individuals- and following that definition even when it is difficult and painful.

Why has the world forgotten the lessons of old?  It seems that we are taught daily to follow the path of self gratification, selfishness and materialism.  Everyday less and less people choose to give of themselves freely, true practice of religions, and expect future generations to be better than the ones before us.  I remember as a young man I was asked by a friend who happened to of been in a string of bad relationships at the time, who I would recommend for her to date.  It took me a while to come to the conclusion that I didn’t know one man - not one man that would treat her as she deserved.  It was a real awakening to me because I had many good friends but even among them I knew no one who would give of themselves freely. 

I myself am a product of a broken home, typical- selfish parents sleeping around and justifying the behavior in what ever form they could, but I was giving a huge break.  At the age of 5 my step mother came into my life and became a life example of a beautiful, selfless person.  I sometimes wonder if she wasn’t given to me; to guide and mold my life, would I have inevitably ended up like my parents, or would I have found the strength on my own to be a good man even against the grain of a ever dying world?

Will we as a people ever choose to be honorable, just and full of integrity?  Will we ever stop justifying selfish living?  How do we re-create the moral compass that makes us more than just men and woman?  How do we become greater - when do we rise and be all we could be?

I’m not waiting for some political hero to rise up to the call, I’m simple going to live the best I can in this world, and if it means often times being walked on, used, or taken advantage of.  It takes a strong person to be what is right.

Our political world is a sea of broken men and women.  If you have the stubborn yet honorable pride in our country like I do, I beg you to endeavor to change or influence what you can, no matter how small. 

Even the smallest pebble makes a ripple far beyond its own size.

Just one political wish.



I’m sitting across the diner table with the family, and I was posed with the most interesting question: If I could have just one political wish- what would it be? Now obviously I could have responded with the typical Miss America pageant answer and said “world peace and no starving children” and although that would be amazing, I chose to pick an answer more achievable.

I honestly believe majority of the problems that we face in our country today occur because of the way we fund our political leaders. We have set up our system to fail. If a good man wants to make change he must first get elected-- and in order to get elected-- he needs vast amounts of money. He or she is forced to earn that money either through favors, influence, or direct votes. This is the sad truth, but never the less, it’s the game.

I choose to believe that some of our elected officials want to stand on their principles, and if we give them a way to get elected without having to fill obligations, they may be able too run on their convictions. If we want to see good men and woman in power then we need some simple changes. No donations, except from individual registered voters, with a limit of 1000 dollars and only to the individual running. Absolutely no donations to parties or special interest groups. They get their votes just like every other individual at the polls. No corporate donations, groups, or fundraisers, just individuals by mail and all fully disclosed to the public. By allowing anything else is giving more weight to one persons vote, it’s not fair, it’s not the American I envision.

It would inspire more elected officials to do town hall meetings and to raise capital from smaller, more personal venues, and for once a small voice may be heard. It would also remove power from party leaders and give it to the everyday citizens. We may actual gain educated voters rather than those who are moved by flashy media tactics or celebrity endorsements.