Honor and Value All

I am not sure there is such a thing or if I have made up a label for myself. I’ll explain in a moment.

I love the commercial on television where a zombie is trying to convince a salesperson that he is not a zombie. He vehemently rejects being labeled a zombie. Then the unthinkable happens in front of the salesperson—an ear falls off. He has to admit that he is a zombie. I guess some labels are genuine.

I really love commercials like this, and I admit some of the funniest are usually by insurance companies.

I would love to be a part of their creative think-tanks for commercials. I feel sure there would be a lot of hard work involved, but also a lot of good, long-tenured laughter.

Back to the topic at hand—labels. I’m not sure if there is such a label. I wonder if there is a group of people known as social ethicists. If people labeled me a social ethicist, I would not mind. I have always had a concern for all people and for equity among all of God’s children. I truly believe what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

Many of the decisions I make are not selfish, but out of concern for others. My “inner” eyes always see people as equal, and in so doing, honor and value people of all races and man-made stations of life. If someone commits a crime, whether rich or poor or different man-made station in life, the verdict and punishment should be the same. Period.

If one school has computers for its students, all schools should offer computers for its students. Period. If a family suffers the loss of home and people show up to help them, then people should come wherever and whenever anyone else around them loses a home. Period.

If a child is sick and or dying and people come forward to help, then people should come forward and help whenever any child is sick and or dying. Period.

When a church member is no longer active in church and folks work to get them back involved in the church, they should do, likewise, for all inactive members of the church. Period.

In the late 1980s, I took on one of the top automobile manufacturers in America (at that time) all by myself, without a lawyer or money. Why did I do this? For myself, but also, to make a statement on behalf of others who didn’t have the time or know-how.

After horrible customer service from a dealership, I contacted the regional office. My success there was equal to that at the dealership. Next, I contacted the corporate headquarters. They listened.

They requested a copy of my many work orders, deductibles, and a summary of my experiences. (I take wonderful notes.) They requested that I send it to their arbitration committee. I did. Weeks later I received both a phone call and a letter from the company.

I was directed back to the original dealership which had to fix my car once and for all. I was given all of my deductibles back. My warranty was extended from 50,000 to 100,000 miles. Plus, if I continued to have problems with this car, I would have to be given another car. Strangely, my car was fixed and I never had any other problems with it.

I succeeded for myself, but also for others like myself, in not letting corporate America do as they please to hard-working, honest people. My car payments were not for a CEO or some white-collar somewhere to enjoy the fruits of my labor for an inferior, cheaply-made car.

Not only do I think God was with me, but made all of this possible. My God is this way. He believes in equity among God’s children.