I have always placed a high value on personal integrity. You know! Honesty! The contract that a hand shake creates! Your word is your bond! You get the idea.
I see that the Japanese have been recovering wallets in the aftermath of the psunami that struck last spring. Over $78 million dollars has been recovered and returned to the rightful owners. It is the right thing to do.
In 1977, your Mom and I bought a cottage on Crystal Lake. The owner, a man who had worked at Kohler all his life, gave us a tour of his personally built structure. He wanted $30,000. We agreed to the price. We shook hands! When we signed the formal papers several months later at the lawyers office, we were told that a Chicago couple had offered $35,000 the same morning after we left. The ower said we had a contract (handshake) and he turned it down. It was the right thing to do (and appreciated).
At a recent hockey even out east, there was a half time contest designed to test scoring ability with hockey put. A 3 inch puck had to be put through a 3.5 inch slot in a board from 50 feet away. A 10 year kid picked at random attempted the feat and made the shot. He won $50,000. But wait! It turns out the kid was not the person drawn at random from the crowd. His twin brother made the shot. If you were the parent, would you admit that $50,000 was won improperly by the brother. Yep! The error was admitted and the prize refused. It was the right thing!
Desmond Bishop was invited along with over 50 Green Bay Packers to the White House in recognition of winning the Super Bowl. He got off the team chartered airplane and bussed to the White House. He thought he had his wallet in his pocket but it was his cell phone. To gain admittance to the White House, Desmond had to show identification. He didn’t have any. No drivers license or other document such as insurance cards etc. He couldn’t go into the celebration. No exceptions. No. I.D. No admittance. Now come on! Desmond had 49 other team members that could vouch for him personally. Nope. Desmond waited on the bus. His promise of a memorable moment was lost on a technicality. It was not the right thing to do!
I have to believe that we are country of good and honest people. That thought sustains me. As I look around it seems “truth” gets harder to find.
Love,
Dad