HYPOCRISY

Hypocrisy is something we all despise, but sometimes what we think is hypocrisy is just a human failing. If someone professes certain beliefs, it does not mean that they themselves are immune from committing those acts which violate those beliefs.  Hypocrisy exists only when the professor claims a false belief and violates those principles on a regular basis.

Human weaknesses, when it concerns morality, are the reason we need a mechanism of forgiveness.  Those who sincerely believe but fall victim to temptation are not hypocrites but "sinners", for lack of a better word.  Their guilt comes from acknowledging that what they did was wrong and regret having done it and will make an effort to not repeat it.

We have seen many of our most prominent leaders who have contributed much and bravely to our country and therefore, for us, fall into disgrace for what are "indiscretions", not crimes. For these actions to become an automatic reason for dismissing valuable people, some heroes, is non-sensical.  If, on the other hand, these acts lead to endangering others, the punishment should be for the endangerment, not for the act.   Unless the act results in harm to others, it should not concern anyone else.

The hypocrisy kicks in when many of the accusers are equally as guilty in their own lives or have known others whose actions were not made public so they continued at their posts without objection.  Reality tells us that none of us is perfect, at least not many of us, so we should not make hypocritical demands when others have a momentary lapse in judgement.