Few persons can name the Seven Deadly Sins; fewer can define them. After reading the morning paper’s accounts of bad things happening in my town and in the world, I’m convinced that at least five of the sins, perhaps all seven, are the not-so-secret ingredients of a deadly cocktail called ArroganceConsider these items from this morning’s paper:
* A corporate CEO pays directors $25,000 and expenses for four two-hour meetings annually; they in turn OK the CEO’s $12 million in pay and perks for “reaching goals.” CEO feels, “I earned this, I’m the boss, I own two degrees, worked my way up and put up with lots of stuff. I deserve 12 million bucks, maybe more.”
* A state governor is ousted for accepting dozens of golf junkets and Caribbean cruises, courtesy of shadowy statehouse hangers-on, a.k.a. lobbyists, who also shower assemblypersons with a baskets of goodies and, in turn, earn big bucks from their employers--corporations and PACs.
* Sports and entertainment super-stars do stupid things but gain big, black headlines in supermarket tabloids and broadcast media. A few end up in the pokey, many are dethroned, but most survive after rehab and tearful apologies, then treated to blacker headlines, humungous contracts and a free upgrade to mega-star.
Enough! By day’s end, the print/ broadcast folks will have reported a dozen more events spawned by arrogant behavior. Is not this arrogance truly a composite of the Seven Deadly Sins as delineated by Pope Gregory the Great—lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride?
A resounding yes, including sloth and wrath.
I’m compiling a list of 10 candidates for annual induction into an Arrogance Hall of Shame. Send me your nomination (s) please.
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