Oh
Tannenbaum!
As
LaFollette (2007) concludes, he asks readers to consider the method to his
madness and the manner through which he introduces ethics. I couldn’t help but
consider my own method and madness as I decorated the family Christmas tree. I
began to consider the many lessons LaFollette (2007) presented. There are more
than two sides to the many arguments of hot button issues such as gun control,
racism, punishment, and world hunger. A hint of naiveté goes a long way in understanding
others’ motives and resisting knee jerk judgements. Finally, although ethics
and morality may be demanding, practice is required if we are to achieve an
ethical way of living. How amazing is it that a simple, yearly tradition can
help bring all of this into focus?
The
Christmas tree begins as a beautiful, evergreen anchor upon which we hang both
our memories and hopes. Just as the tree serves as the anchor for a wide array
of decorations; so, too are we the anchor for our ethical behavior, to which we
can add many lessons and sharpen those already learned. The star which is the
first ornament placed every year is my moral compass. For me, it represents all
of the lessons learned from my parents. That foundation allows me to expand my
knowledge and question long held beliefs and adjust in light of new information.
Is it acceptable to tell my children, now my grandchildren that Santa delivers
toys around the world in a reindeer driven sleigh? Does he really eat all those
cookies and drink all those glasses of milk?
The
lights are next. They represent the light we must constantly shine on subject
matters in order to ascertain factors such as knowledge, abilities, age,
education, and time; elements that not only help us as individuals to determine
our own standards of morality; but, those can alter expectations from others
(LaFollette, 2007). The lights on my tree are multi-color. Imagine the argument
of racism. On a Christmas tree different colors, resting side-by-side along the
boughs of the tree, shed different lights on different ornaments. The same
ornament may be viewed differently under the glow of a red, blue, green, or
white light. Some trees have all white lights? Could that be racist? For me,
one specific color, is rather boring. What about world hunger? Is it wrong for me to have a tree while others barely have food? The many colors of lights on my tree glow
in harmony and add to the beauty of the tree. Just as lights come in many
shades and styles; so, too does garland.
Instead
of gold or silver garland, I use ribbons and strands of golden pearl-style
beads. The ribbons are the many theories of ethics running through the many
corners of my mind. I place each ribbon to achieve the best result, or
consequence, similar to the predications of consequentialism (LaFollette, 2007).
I have dozens of styles of ribbons from which to choose; and, I choose the one
that provides the best overall look for the tree, based on its size. Some years
I use all of the ribbons, and other years only a few will do. The deontologist
in me follows strict rules regarding the overall decorating process. Star
first, then lights, followed by ribbons, and pearls. It’s a process my mother
followed; and, decorating the tree has always been a way for me to keep her
memory alive; therefore, although I could deviate, I do not. The strands of
gold pearls remind us that if we get to close to a line that should not be
crossed, once crossed the behavior becomes easy to repeat. The strands are hung
very close to the end of each branch, giving the illusion of sparkling necklaces
draping the tree. Placed too close to the edge, they easily fall and can cause
a cascading, crashing effect with other ornaments. After years of decorating, I
have learned to place the strands far enough from the edge which leaves room
for the many ornaments.
I
always place the handmade ornaments on the tree first. They represent the many
memories; and, in the sense of ethics, the lessons learned as a result of
practice. I know the historical insight of each ornament made by my children.
Making ornaments for the tree was something I enjoyed doing with my children.
LaFollette (2007) states a key to becoming virtuous is we must enjoy doing it.
It leads to habituation, required for both virtuosity and morality. Memory
ornaments, like our own memories, help us recall lessons learned from mistakes,
too. The familiar round glass balls that adorn many trees help us to recall
that ethics is continual in nature and never-ending. Slippery slope arguments
can lead us in circles and make us fear change (LaFollette, 2007). Like the
lights, round balls come in many colors; and, again, one color makes for a
boring tree.
The
final adornment to my tree are red bows and a set of handmade ornaments that
provide the naiveté LaFollette (2007) urges us to cultivate. The bows represent
the sense of tying all of the theories together in order to have the complete
package for living an ethical life. The handmade ceramic ornaments are hand-painted,
whimsical Christmas bears. Each year, I smile as I hang each one and that
child-like spirit fills my very soul. It helps me to enjoy Christmas shopping
rather than become cross with an overly aggressive shopper. I see the good in
people first and blind myself to their faults (LaFollette, 2007).
Ethics,
at least for me, is much like decorating a Christmas tree. It begins with a
good base tree. Its star is the moral compass that guides each of us. It
requires patience, imagination, and caring to not only decorate a tree; but, to
choose to and implement a plan that leads to a more ethical life.
References
LaFollette, H. (2007). The Practice of Ethics. Malden, MA:
Blackwell Publishing.
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