Birds of party feathers flocking together

The Judeo-Christian scriptures have 23 verses alone that speak about our reputations when connected to the people with whom we ally ourselves. 

For example: “make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.” (Proverbs 22:24-25). And another: “do not be deceived: bad company ruins good morals.” ( I Cor. 15:33) The remaining 21 offer a similar sentiment. Be careful, you are known by the company you keep. Those of us who ascribe to the Judeo-Christian scriptures, expect others, including oneself, to try to live by the stated ethical and moral prescriptions contained therein. As such, I remain stunned that virtually all of the elected officials who support Mr. Trump (including Rep. Tom Tiffany and Sen. Ron Johnson) also publicly ascribe to these same scriptures. Yet, they remain in the supportive company of a convicted felon (facing 54 additional felony charges) while vilifying the 248-year legal processes that convicted him. The Greeks have a word for this hypocrisy: σκάνδαλον, which means “an offense, a snare, a stumbling-block, or a cause for error. It refers to how someone is caught by their own devices (like their personal bias, and carnal thinking).“

The secular world’s approach to this topic predates some of the Judeo-Christian scriptures in offering the same warning and advice. In a fable written by Aesop in the 500s B.C entitled “The Ass and his Purchaser,” a man takes a donkey to his farm for a trial period to see how the animal will fit in with his herd. When the donkey enters the pasture, he seeks the company of the laziest and greediest donkey that the man owns. The man watches and then returns the animal he had just bought, because he knows it will be lazy and greedy, based on his choice of company. The moral of the story: “a man is known by the company he keeps.” We will develop or have the same character, ethics and moral standards as those with whom we choose to surround ourselves. 

Similarly, it was in a 1615 A.D. edition of “Don Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes where Sancho Panza, who was the faithful servant and squire of Don Quixote, said “Tell me your company, and I will tell you what you are.” In other words, pick better animals to associate with.

“Bad company ruins good morals.” Or as Aesop might say, one lazy ass can ruin the entire herd. If it was true 2,500 years ago, it is likely good advice now. Just a thought as we have very recently entered a new era in our country. A former president has become the first convicted felon in 248 years of our history. Perhaps this is a time when we all should be mindful of the company we keep.