This document is an opinion paper discussing the concept of integrity. It begins by defining integrity as being honest, consistent, and doing what is right regardless of consequences. It then provides examples of historical figures who demonstrated integrity, such as John McCain refusing an early release from prison and Socrates standing by his beliefs even at death. In contrast, it discusses leaders who lacked integrity, such as Hitler disregarding others' opinions and President Clinton committing adultery. The paper concludes that while integrity can be difficult, living with integrity avoids mental anguish and gains credibility over time.

1. Running head: OPINION PAPER
Opinion Paper
Name:
Course:
Professor Name:
(June 1, 2012)

2. OPINION PAPER 2
Integrity
To me, integrity is a term that is much related to morals. Well I may not have a
clear-cut definition of integrity as such but may be according to me, integrity is being
honest in one’s speech, actions and life and doing what is right regardless who one is
(with or without a title), where one is, whether one is in private and has an opportunity
to act alternatively, or who one is with-whether with the right or the wrong company.
Integrity according to me calls for consistency in honesty and doing right. I know there
are times when one may be able to overcome an ethical issue and emerge victorious in
that particular day but other days the person does not watch out on trivial issues like
lying over the cell phone concerning the place where one is-that is still not integrity.
Integrity is being truthful consistently no matter how painful or costly the truth may be
and never wanting to take shortcuts in doing things in life.
For me, integrity is a very important virtue in life and it is very important to live
with integrity. This is because everyone wants to interact or stay with an honest person
who is easy to understand at all times.as well, everyone is looking for a leader in the
smallest capacity that is honest and credible. Integrity not only earns someone
credibility therefore but also saves one the agony of being many different personalities
at different times. What I mean by this is that a person who does not display integrity
really goes through a lot of agony trying to ‘fit in ‘everyday by using a new lie. This can
be really difficult because one has to learn to cover up every lie every new day and this
can be a great effort and can be mentally torturing.However,if someone lives truth, acts
truth and says the truth, then it is easier to live every day at ease because one doesn’t
have to try and remember what he did, said or acted yesterday in order to match the
yesterday’s person with todays because if all is truth, then it will be consistent without

3. OPINION PAPER 3
much pressure. For me integrity is really important especially in leadership because lack
of it can be very costly.
Some people struggle with the issue of integrity while others do not. May be I
can try and identify some three examples in each case to show how practical or
unpractical matters of integrity can be in the real life situation.
One of the people that I really admire is John McCain who once ran for
presidency. According to Tom &Nancy (1985), John was a naval flier duringVietnam
who was shot down over NorthVietnam. His injuries included broken bones that did not
heal properly. Anyhow, he was kept prisoner in Hanoi Hilton which was a Vietnamese
prisoner of war camp and kept in isolation of over seven years. He was really tortured
but at one point he was promised that he would go home because he was the son of a
navy commander. However,he refused to go because there were other prisoners who
were wounded more than he was and were kept more than he was. The reason why I
admire this situation is because for me, I don’t know if I would have refused to go
home. From a perspective where I do not mind if there is a virtue like integrity, for me I
would just go home and have time to heal my would and may be feel good for the
honor. However,I really admire John because he refused to go considering that there
were others who needed help than him. This can be a difficult decision to make.
Another person that I really admire is Socrates. According to Thomas (2012),
Socrates was a philosopher who lived in the early days and he was one of these people
who was really determined to seek the truth, know the truth and live the
truth.However,for those of us who have read about how Socrates died, it is shocking
that Socrates was executed and even on his death point, Socrates still stood with the
truth he believed and was not moved in the face of death. Why I really admire him also
is because am not sure if I would stand with the truth and die for it or I can change it to

4. OPINION PAPER 4
prolong my life. This is what integrity is.it calls for a difficult choice; a choice that
many would avoid and that is courage as demonstrated by Socrates
The third person would give as an example of someone who stood with integrity
is the Roman general Cincinnatus. According to William (1990), he was a roman
general who did all he could to save Rome as he thought it was a civic duty to do
so.hefought and was wounded. He escaped calculated deaths six times but finally he
survived. However,when everyone thought that the best honor they would give him was
make him king, Cincinnatus refused and preferred to remain in the back bench. This is
really amazing. For me I would have wanted to be honored, to feel a king and feel that
my efforts were recognized. That is not Cincinnatus. He was just serving the public.
This is really admirable.
On the other hand, following are the examples of people who at one point in life
never displayed integrity.one of themisKing Hitler. Hitler was one of these leaders who
in history were the worse dictator. According to Thomas (2012), Hitler did not care
what people felt even if he was not on the right-his was to say what is to be done, theirs
was to do what he meant. According to me, this is lack of integrity. According to the
definition I gave, integrity is doing right regardless of who one is. If I were the one, I
would at least give people a chance to say what they thought was right for us to do and
not to dictate all the time.
Another example is for President Clinton. President Clinton who was a much
respected American president at one point was caught committing adultery with another
woman (Monica) who was not the wife. According to William (1990) the story was
aired through the media and in a span of a moment, the whole issue had brought the
president down. Of course all this happened because the president had an opportunity to
get the woman and of course had the title to tell it all. According to me, I think people

5. OPINION PAPER 5
of integrity will not take advantage of situations but like in this case, the president
would have thought of the wife wherever she was and save himself the agony to remain
with a spot of failure in leadership to date
The last example is that of President Idd Amin Dada of Uganda. This president
according to Thomas (2012) at one point lied to the entire invalid and the poor that he
needed them to be ferried to a place to get a relief of some sort. However,his main
intention was to kill all of them so that in his time there is no old and inactive
generation. This according to me was so wrong because it is good to speak the truth at
all times. Again, the intention and the mind to kill is a very evil. According to me,
instead of thinking of killingthem, I would have better built them a rehabilitationcenter
to stay and get help from there.
Conclusion
Matters of integrity are very sensitive.it is usually not easy to demonstrate
integrity. however,if one knows the cost and the benefits of living or not living with
integrity, then as much as it can be difficult ,a bit by bit effort will do one good and at
the end of the day realize that what was really difficult has become a lifestyle.

6. OPINION PAPER 6
References
Tom P.,& Nancy, A. (1985).Passion for Excellence. New York: Random House
William A. Cohen(1990).The Art of the Leader .Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.
Thomas, D. (2012). Living Integrity.Leadership and Integrity, 34-56.