What Happened to Integrity?

A LITTLE over one hundred years ago, Barney Barnato, a diamond speculator, returned to England from South Africa. Upon his arrival he took exception to a newspaper story written about him. So he gave the editor some handwritten notes for a second article, "just putting things right," with a check for a large sum of money.

The editor, J.K. Jerome, threw the notes into the wastepaper basket and gave the check back. Surprised, Barnato immediately doubled his offer. That was likewise rejected. "How much do you want?" He asked. Recalling the incident, Jerome says: "I explained to hm it wasn't done-not in London." His editorial integrity was definitely not for sale.

"Integrity" has been defined as "moral uprightness and honesty." A person of integrity is worthy of trust. But today, improbity -a lack of integrity-is undermining all walks of life.

In Britain the media have popularized the word "sleaze" to describe the loss of moral integrity. As The Independent newspaper put it, sleaze covers "everything from love affairs and local government gerrymandering to kickbacks or big expert orders. "No area of life is exempt.

Next time: Integrity's Fluctuating Standards

Watchtower, 1997