Integrity

Elvira K. Castillo

I'm not quite sure if anyone really believes there is any person on earth with complete integrity. However, even if I do not know this person, he is one that I personally feel epitomizes the word "integrity." That person is Jimmy Stewart, the famous actor. From what I've seen and read, he not only demonstrated integrity in the many films he made, but also lived it.

He was one of the most respected, beloved and admired actors in America, and what better icon of integrity deserved our respect, love and admiration. His passionate sincerity was definitely a powerful influence and role model for many young people growing up. He could play a tough guy, but at the same time a nice guy without being a bully.

In the movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," he fought for fairness, right from wrong, and decency, which he played with forthright integrity. Nancy Reagan said, on a TV special about Jimmy Stewart, "What you see is what you get," meaning what he portrayed is what he believed and lived.

In church a few Sundays ago, we had a guest speaker from London whose sermon was entitled "Our Words to Each Other." In the sermon he said that our words alone are not enough, but it is our actions and deeds that prove how we care for each other. In other words, don't just talk, but take action and show how you feel. How we live is what defines who we really are and if we are honest and have integrity. I believe Jimmy Stewart was certainly an example of living out the words he spoke in his films and in his personal life. He was the personification of "Mom, apple pie, and the American way of life" as we would like it to be. He was a man we could relate to who had basic American values, and those values were portrayed in his films as well as his real life. He came from a small town of Indiana, PA from a typical American family, where his father was the owner of a hardware store. In fact, his first Oscar was displayed in his father's store window for over 20 years, his father thinking it was "just some kind of an award." He was drafted during WW II and became a war hero in the Air Force. He was only married once and was an excellent father to his two step sons and twin daughters, and he and wife Gloria shared the same ideals values and charitable causes.

Although he played the wholesome, home spun, nice guy, the hero, the idealist and the brave and tough guy, he also played characters that were neurotic, obsessed and corrupt. But, no matter what he played, we always believed him because of what he stood for - integrity. The Western movies actually saved his career after WW II, because his contract with MGM ran out during the war, and when he returned he had a difficult time finding the right vehicle after a couple of movies flopped. When he got the movie "Harvey," he had to sign up for the Western "Winchester 73," which was a blessing in disguise. The Western revitalized his career and he went on to make 17 Western movies. When asked if he liked doing Westerns, he said he enjoyed them because they actually are the history of America's early development.

When asked how he would like to be remembered, he replied, "As a man who worked hard, had good values, loved his country, loved his family, loved his community, and loved God." These are Jimmy's words and I'm sure this is how many will remember him. In my eyes this is a man of great principle and true integrity and a true inspiration to us all. Maybe he was the "richest man in town" after all, which is what his brother said to him in the film "It's a Wonderful Life."

Jimmy would have been 100 years old this year, being born May 20, 1908, SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, MR. INTEGRITY!

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A Round the Table Discussion

N. Stewart

"Ian," said the teacher, "What do you think the word means?" He closed his eyes and thought for a minute, and then he said it meant honesty, never telling a lie.

"Nathan, how about you?" He lowered his hand when called upon, and said he thought it meant to stick to your guns.

"Telvad, your turn. What do you think integrity means." Telvad paled at being called on, and shifted her eyes from the teacher's face to the floor. "Telvad, look up at me. It's ok if you don't understand the word. We're all here to learn." Telvad shrugged her shoulder, and looked down at the floor again, covering her face.

"Esme, you can stop waving your hand. Go ahead. What do you think it means? That's one way of interpreting the word, but let's remember that's not the only way. When you hold on to what you believe to be morally true and right and don't flip-flop, then you have integrity. If you were to change your thinking whenever any one says something that differs, then you would not have integrity. Now, there are still other meanings and let's see what more we can come up with."

"George? ... George, put down the pen and pay attention."

"Robin, you can go next and we'll give George a chance to catch up with us. What do you think? That's another way of looking at it. When something holds something together it does have integrity. Such as the integrity of the materials used for a building -- it keeps it all together. So, not only people, but objects can have integrity."

"Izzy, if you can't come up with any other meaning on your own, then, yes, you can agree with Ian. But try." He thought for a minute, and then questioned whether telling the truth was one. "Sure, that works," said the teacher.

"Tameka, you're right. People that are honorable to their word have integrity."

"Ying, can you sum it up for us? What does integrity mean?" Ying rose from his seat, bowed slightly, and began by saying the class discovered the word, integrity, has many meanings. He said it can mean honesty, not lying, standing by your beliefs, having moral strength, not going along with someone else's opinion, keeping to your word, and providing strength to other people and things. "Yes, that is all correct," said the teacher. "There is not one meaning that defines the word integrity, there are many, but overall it means to be honest and truthful with yourself and with others."

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