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eth·ic (ěth’ĭk)
[Middle English ethik, from Old French ethique (from Late Latin ēthica, from Greek ēthika, ethics) and from Latin ēthicē (from Greek ēthikē), both from Greek ēthikos, ethical, from ēthos, character; see s(w)e- in Indo-European roots.]
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The word ethics actually comes from a word for character…
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char·ac·ter (kār’ək-tər)
[Middle English carecter, distinctive mark, imprint on the soul, from Old French caractere, from Latin charactēr, from Greek kharaktēr, from kharassein, to inscribe, from kharax, kharak-, pointed stick.]
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The word character comes from the pointed stick used to inscribe a distinctive mark. It literally means the unique qualities of a person that endure over time. In the moral realm, it’s limited to the enduring moral behavior of a person, again, over time.
Crime is defined differently from ethics. Most of the definitions can be paraphrased as "breaking the law", but the standard is different from ethics. Crime involves directly injuring others in some way - taking their stuff, hurting them, interfering with their livelihood, etc. Ethical violations harm people, but indirectly. In politics, it’s usually something like betraying the public trust. But the line becomes blurry between crime and ethical violations. We need another word.
With the Bush Administration, this distinction has disappeared. Their stance has been consistent, "If you can’t prosecute me for a crime, then shut up!" It appears that Ms. Palin has the same stance. She apparently fired an Alaskan Official because he would not fire her former brother-in-law. Her peers said that this was an abuse of power. Of course she had the right as governor to fire the guy. But it was "unethical" to fire him for that reason. That’s what they said - a bunch of Republicans and a couple of Democrats. And it speaks to Palin’s character. Firing people is what she does - as mayor, as governor. It’s her enduring "distinctive mark."
Friend Carl has a dictionary too. He passes on the true definition of what she did:
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Main Entry: mal·fea·sance
Pronunciation: "mal-’fEz-&ns Function: noun Etymology: mal- bad + obsolete English feasance doing, execution, from Old French faisance, from fais-, stem of faire to make, do, from Latin facere : the commission (as by a public official) of a wrongful or unlawful act involving or affecting the performance of one’s duties — |
I’ve missed reading Abby’s adventures the last several months. Her pumpkin carving adventure is one I won’t forget for a long time. Thanks for the laugh.