Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

May 20, 2013

Ever since Adam tried to avoid answering a direct question by re-directing blame at his wife, human beings have done everything we can to evade responsibility for our transgressions. This is a universal failing, of course, but like every other human weakness it is dramatically magnified by political power ? as the childish behavior of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford illustrates.

Recently, a video materialized that appeared to show Mayor Ford smoking crack cocaine, something for which residents of his city are routinely arrested and sent to prison. Rather than publicly confronting the accusations, Mayor Ford went into hiding ? allowing his brother Doug, a City Councilor, to deflect criticism. Meanwhile, the compromising video is reportedly being shopped around to media outlets by people who are involved in drug trafficking.

Augustine warned that a man has as many masters as he has vices. Men who are prone to vice have no business offering themselves to be public servants, especially if the position they seek entails prosecuting the vices of other people. When public officials leave themselves compromised by their immoral conduct, they should immediately admit their failings and resign ? rather than hiding and pretending that the problem will disappear. But that course of action would require character, something rarely seen among politicians.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.