Words, not deeds

Years ago, a professor of mine told me about how, as a child growing up, his mother would always tell him, "Saying it's so doesn't make it so."

Which brings us to the Honorable Jay Imperial. I think it must have been four or five times at last night's [December 5, 2005] city council meeting that he told us of his high ethical standards.

Now, to me, having ethics is sort of like leadership, or honor, or truthfulness. You don't demonstrate ethics by telling everybody you have them. You demonstrate ethics through your actions. If you act honorably, you don't need to keep telling everybody what an honorable person you are. Similarly, "Saying it's so doesn't make it so."

I think Mr. Imperial ought to be asking himself why he needs to spend so much time telling us how honorable and ethical he is. . . .