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Hon - or

Noun: high respect, esteem, a keen sense of ethical conduct

Synonyms: honesty, integrity, esteem, righteousness

Example: He is a man of honor.

Honor. I have been thinking a lot about honor lately, possibly because there seems to be so little of it. I don't see honor in the White House and not much of it in congress. There are too many examples to list of politicians who are not honorable. I most certainly do not see honor in the media. Print and television journalists, who do not even pretend to be unbiased, mislead, accuse, and spin.

My father-in-law was a "who, what, when, where, why, and how" kind of journalist with the Associated Press for forty plus years. Jim Saggus covered the civil rights movement in Mississippi in the late 1950's and 1960's.  The times were obviously contentious, much like today. Jim covered the events with honesty and fairness. He reported the facts, free from opinion, judgment, or bias. So, you see, I know it CAN be done.

As Jim battled leukemia he was honored in an article by Clarion Ledger Columnist Danny McKenzie. A few quotes offer some insight into his career and the honorable man he was.

• UPI journalist Andy Reese said, "Jim never backed off anything," Reese, now the information officer for the Mississippi House of Representatives said.  
• "He was a damn good newsman, and an extremely tough competitor.
•  Then Reese adds the universal clincher. "He     had the complete respect of everybody.

• "Indeed he did, said Charlie Capps of Cleveland, a veteran member of the House."Jim was always forthright, objective and honest,"
• Capps said "You could depend on him to report the facts with complete objectivity.
• He was someone we all looked up to. He was highly respected."

• Former Governor William Winter said Saggus "always called it as he saw it, but was always completely fair".
• "I don't know anyone who does not hold Jim Saggus in high regard," he added.
• And Winter said he wasn't surprised to learn Saggus is also an ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church.

When President Kennedy called his contacts in Mississippi to ask who would give him straight, unbiased facts, he was told Jim Saggus with the AP. Robert Kennedy called him at home in the middle of the night for updates.

I have tried to think of journalists today who are respected by both liberals and conservatives. Very few come to mind. At the end of life will a diverse group of peers say of any one of today's journalists, he was always fair and unbiased, that he had the complete respect of everyone, and that he gave a fair shake to both sides? Are there journalists who can be called truly honorable? I hope so. Journalism has certainly changed and that makes me sad.

Hon - or - a - ble:

Adjective: bringing or worthy of honor

Synonyms: honest, moral, ethical, principled

Example: He lived an honorable life.

Honorable. Describes my family and friends, and that makes me happy and very grateful!

Sincerely,

Mary Windsor

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