John, maybe in a perfect world, but we don't live in a perfect world. Why do politicians go negative? Because it works.
Sometimes all evil needs to flourish is for good people to do nothing.
Unfortunately, 2 + 2=4. That's a fact. But there are lot of people that don't want to learn, who demand to have stuff dumbed down into bites. This is what allows fraudsters to flourish with half truths and misleading stats.
It's nice to stay above the fray, but it's cowardice to do nothing when you know wrongs are being committed. It's like Switzerland staying neutral, but taking all of the Nazi's gold in their banks. They are just as responsible for the atrocities committed to steal that gold.
Sure, there are many times when the truth lies somewhere in the middle of two extremes, but it takes a wise and critical thinker to know when. Sadly, the world is woefully short of those today.
I recently read a post from somebody who was complaining about the fact that many people in the auto industry thought they endorsed a company because their spouse works there. It's a logical conclusion, after all, they are supposed to be an outspoken leader, and by not saying anything negative about their spouse's company to protect them and the income, or to have the moral conviction for their spouse to leave to work for a company they do approve of, they are giving their tacit approval. This really pissed them off.
Well, guess what? That's how the world works. You and your spouse don't have the moral conviction to do what's right for the sake of money. You have sold out.
So yes, while it's nice to think of yourself as the bigger man, be very careful, because often times it just means you don't have the guts and moral compass to do what's right. Real leaders and heroes do the dirty jobs others won't.
