In the bible it says, œHe who is without sin, cast the first stone.  In my view, there is too much moral judgment in the œsin part.  I am not much interested in questioning someones beliefs.  That is personal to them and who am I to question?

I think, in practice, we might want to consider that what might be the most effective way to look at any situation is, œare we in integrity or out?  Not integrity as a moral issue, but an engineers integrity.  Do the gears mesh precisely so that the machinery works?

Consider that integrity for human beings is œdoing what works, and the works part is œkeeping your word.  Do what you say you are going to do.  Your word is the most important asset you have.

The question I have is what happens when you dont do what you say youre going to do?  The moralists write you off forever.  The judges pronounce the sentence and you wear that around your neck for the rest of your life.

Recently, the University of Louisville Coach Rick Pitino made a mistake.  Given his celebrity, it was a big mistake.  I have no interest in judging the man for his behavior (the morality of it).  I, also, dont think that invalidates all of the contributions hes made to the lives of the people hes coached.

Was his integrity out?  Absolutely.  He made a promise to his wife in the wedding vows and he broke that promise.  Does Rick Pitino lose credibility forever and ever as a result?  That is a possible consequence.

Consider this:  In order to have integrity, there needs to be room to fail.  In order to perform at the highest level, I must have the freedom to fail.  Giving your word is risky.  I do not know I can deliver, even if that is my intention.

If we cant clean up our mistakes, there is no integrity available.  Do you know anyone who has never made a mistake?  Is it you?  If it is, I want to meet you and find out your secret.  Have you kept every promise you have made?  If so, you have automatic entry into the œIntegrity Hall of Fame.

Awhile back, NBA great and Dream Team member Charles Barkley got a DUI, and national publicity for it.  This goes with being a celebrity.  You are recognized for everything that you do.  It goes with the territory.

I certainly dont condone driving and drinking.  It was a mistake to do that.  I know the consequences well.  August 30, 2008 my attorney daughter Shelley was killed by a hit and run driver about 6am while out training for her ninth marathon.  She was just short of her fiftieth birthday.  The perpetrator was drunk.

Charles Barkley did what needs to be done when you are out of integrity; he took responsibility for it.  In case you are wondering, when you break a law, you are out of integrity with the social agreement that we have in place to keep the law.  If you do break it, and you get caught, dont excuse it.  Take responsibility and clean it up.

There may be more than one person involved.  There may be a whole crowd of people.  It doesnt matter.  Do whatever it takes to repair the damage one so your integrity is in.  We can repair the machine, so that it is useful again.  Should anything less be available to human beings?

One last thing about responsibility: It has nothing to do with blame or fault.  Responsibility is the willingness to acknowledge the facts of the matter and my role in what happened.  Be exact.  Do not excuse behavior.

When you have done everything you can see to do, let it go.  Move on with your life.  Do not promise you will never do what you did again.  You have no idea what you might do in the future.  You can have that intention.  You may be committed to that and you could fail.

Keep your word.  Clean it up when you dont.  Its a practice of life that works.  Stop judging yourself and others.  Anyway, who made you the judge of anyone?