Moral consistency means being true to the same standards, regardless of who the actor is. If something is wrong, it is wrong if our opponent is doing it or if we are doing it. When pointing out the failings in another, we need to also be willing to address the failings within ourselves.
Having moral consistency means living without contradiction, and that is something that brings a person peace. Perhaps none of us is perfect at achieving this standard, but it is something that we are hopefully striving for. Having this quality requires a certain level of awareness, as well as the humility to admit when we are wrong. Children and youth often have a great capacity to see moral inconsistencies in adults in their lives and are therefore very helpful in keeping us honest.
Moral consistency, however, seems to decrease as power and influence increase. Corporations, governments, and political parties often have idealistic mission statements yet fail miserably in upholding them.
In politics, we tend to hold those who disagree with us to a reasonable standard yet overlook transgressions by those we support. The most obvious example is the prosecution of former American president Donald Trump for having classified government documents in his home. It is right that he be prosecuted for this, but it is inconsistent not to pursue President Joe Biden for the same alleged crime.
In American foreign policy, it is rightly pointed out that Russian President Vladimir Putin is violating international law by invading Ukraine. What is not discussed is that the Americans invaded the country of Iraq 20 years earlier in a very similar manner. It also seems odd that Russians using cluster munitions in Ukraine is a horrendous act, yet it is fine for NATO to provide the same type of weapons to Ukrainians.
In Canada, Justin Trudeau tells members of the official opposition that they support Nazi ideals while his Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland praises her grandfather, a man who published Nazi propaganda using a printing press stolen from a Jewish family during the German occupation of Ukraine. If one watches the bantering that takes place during question period in Parliament, one notices a great deal of finger-pointing, yet precious little admission of fault. It also seems to be forgotten that our wrong actions are not justified because someone else has done something similar.
It is in fact very difficult to find powerful people who practice moral consistency, and ordinary citizens are showing signs of having seen enough. Fewer and fewer of us are getting our news from the mainstream media because we recognize that the reporting is disingenuous. We are noticing that the only consistency is that the narrative supports what is most expedient and profitable, primarily for the arms and pharmaceutical industries.
It is also interesting that the people who try to bring moral consistency to politics are largely ignored. The American Green Party presidential candidate, Cornel West, for example, uses terms like “moral consistency” and “love” when he speaks. He opposes violence, regardless of the perpetrator. He also recognizes each person as a sacred human being, regardless of their opinions, beliefs, what they look like, or where they live in the world. Everyone deserves opportunity and everyone is to be treated with respect. At the same time, West points out that each of us has a bit of “gangster” in us, things that we need to work on to become better individuals.
Perhaps the key to making a better world is learning to prioritize what is consistent and true, and that takes honesty and humility. We will never be perfect, and our world will never be perfect, but we can still move toward perfection.
Moral consistency recognizes that every person is sacred, and everything that does not celebrate this truth is itself a contradiction of our humanity.
Gerry Chidiac is a Prince George writer.
