No Corruption (Photo credit: Ann Douglas)

Socrates was charged and put to death for corruption of the youth.  Apparently he incited them to contempt of leadership by his words against unjust laws and rulers.  With amazement I have to say, “What did he do but point out the obvious?”

If a leader is worthy of contempt what is the harm in pointing it out?  It is not a charge that should be laid against the one who speaks.  It is a charge against the corrupt leader.  The one who speaks is only pointing out what is well known and true.  It is the

Portrait of Socrates. Marble, Roman artwork (1st century), perhaps a copy of a lost bronze statue made by Lysippos. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

obligation of the corrupt leader to change his ways.

Yet corruption often leads to power and influence.  So to point out the faults of those who attain power by means of corruption are likely to wield that power against truth sayers.  My reply is, “What is that to me?  I’m going to die anyway.  Let them come and assail me for telling the truth.  At least I will have done my duty.  That cannot be said of those who took oaths of truth and shed them as soon as they put the robe of office on their shoulders.”

I confess that I am so very frustrated at the lack of leadership from those who know better.  But hasn’t that been the case since the time of Adam?  The frustration is a shared cloak which all men of truth wear.  One thing comes to mind that bears saying.  If I were as I am and placed in a populous advantage I would not be alive today.  Here I am to speak out and I find a twinge of shame in that statement.

You who hold a place of leadership should be speaking out strongly against the corruption in leadership.  But you often resort to simply maintaining peace among the people under your charge.  You turn inward in hopes of establishing stability for those who will listen to you.  All the while the corruption grows to near riot right outside the walls of your sanctuary.  You teach them righteousness and peace while you make no attempt to shine a light on the corruption of this world.

You know who you are.  I know who I am.  Neither of us is the other.  And I do not judge you for what you are doing.  But will you judge me for pointing this out?