Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Editorial
December 17, 1951
Trainman News
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
What is this article about?
The editorial discusses how human flaws like spreading slander are contagious, mirroring in democratic leaders. It calls on citizens to end political smearing, which a congressional committee is investigating for legal remedies.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Contagion of Our Times
The famed historian, Gibbons, said of the great Byzantine general, Belisarius: "His imperfections flowed from the contagion of his times; his virtues were his own."
We glibly accept the statement that "a lie travels around the world while truth gets its boots on," without considering the reason for the tragic truth of that statement. Human imperfections are contagious because you and I make them so. One of the ironies of human character is that we seem so unwilling to spread tales of truth and goodness, but so anxious to spread scandal, slander and character degradation.
As a people blessed with the free democratic way of life, we might find that we could greatly improve our leaders if we would realize that what we dislike in them may be only a reflection of our own shortcomings. That is not true of a tyranny or any form of totalitarian government. It is true of democracy.
Democracy's leaders have the imperfections that "flow from the contagion of the times."
They also have virtues of their own. It is for the people to stamp out the contagion and to bring out the virtues that may reside in their leaders.
A congressional committee is now investigating to determine if some law might be enacted to put an end to political smearing.
Political or any other kind of smearing will end when it becomes a liability rather than an asset to indulge in it. Whether it is a liability or an asset depends upon you and me.
The famed historian, Gibbons, said of the great Byzantine general, Belisarius: "His imperfections flowed from the contagion of his times; his virtues were his own."
We glibly accept the statement that "a lie travels around the world while truth gets its boots on," without considering the reason for the tragic truth of that statement. Human imperfections are contagious because you and I make them so. One of the ironies of human character is that we seem so unwilling to spread tales of truth and goodness, but so anxious to spread scandal, slander and character degradation.
As a people blessed with the free democratic way of life, we might find that we could greatly improve our leaders if we would realize that what we dislike in them may be only a reflection of our own shortcomings. That is not true of a tyranny or any form of totalitarian government. It is true of democracy.
Democracy's leaders have the imperfections that "flow from the contagion of the times."
They also have virtues of their own. It is for the people to stamp out the contagion and to bring out the virtues that may reside in their leaders.
A congressional committee is now investigating to determine if some law might be enacted to put an end to political smearing.
Political or any other kind of smearing will end when it becomes a liability rather than an asset to indulge in it. Whether it is a liability or an asset depends upon you and me.
What sub-type of article is it?
Partisan Politics
Moral Or Religious
Social Reform
What keywords are associated?
Political Smearing
Democracy
Contagion Of Times
Leaders Imperfections
Citizen Responsibility
Slander Spread
Virtues Promotion
What entities or persons were involved?
Gibbons
Belisarius
Congressional Committee
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Combating Political Smearing In Democracy
Stance / Tone
Exhortation To Citizens To End Contagion Of Slander
Key Figures
Gibbons
Belisarius
Congressional Committee
Key Arguments
Human Imperfections Are Contagious Because People Spread Them
People Unwilling To Spread Truth But Anxious To Spread Scandal And Slander
In Democracy Leaders Reflect Public Shortcomings
Democracy's Leaders Have Imperfections From The Contagion Of The Times And Virtues Of Their Own
People Must Stamp Out The Contagion To Bring Out Leaders' Virtues
Political Smearing Will End When It Becomes A Liability Rather Than An Asset