OPINION:
Honesty, a habit once taught by parents to their children, used to be revered and practiced by responsible adults.
It oiled the wheels of progress so that individuals could proceed absent hesitation, but no longer. More damaging than its general lack, however, is its too-frequent, stark absence at the highest levels of business, government and education. The recent resignation announcement of Harvard President Claudine Gay is a prime example.
After damaging sworn testimony to Congress about Hamas’ murderous Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and two dozen different charges of plagiarism concerning her many writings, Ms. Gay has finally consented to stepping down — but without admission of any personal fault.
Rather, Ms. Gay has charged her accusers of racism and offered the disingenuous excuse of being a distraction. So she is retiring back to her job as a fully paid Harvard professor.
She is not the only one guilty of malfeasance and dishonesty here, as the Harvard board is comfortably allowing her to skate on her inadequate morality so she might continue to stand at the head of classes and teach her brand of antisemitism and “truth” to young, impressionable students.
Thus we will have another generation removed from honesty. The consequences of this trend are evident in the general deterioration of a once prosperous and efficient America.
H. LEE LAPOLE
Loveland, Ohio
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