"Totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty."

 

The Origins of Totalitarianism. 1951. 

Hannah Arendt

I Held his Hand (A poem for my dying friend, Earl)

 

I Held his Hand

Last night I held the hands of a dying man.

Last night he held my hand . . . still living, in this moment.

 

This moment . . . is all we have.

Till the end of our time our lives are held in every single moment.

 

The love in a mother and fathers’ eyes.

The flash of a sunset and warmth of a fire and smell of Fir.

Graduations and births and marriages and deaths.

Each a moment throughout the centuries of lives.

 

So, I held his hand, this friend of mine,

This dying friend whom I regard so highly.

I thought of all the moments of his life,

That I know so little of but that does not matter.

 

Only this moment matters, this holding.

This caring, this loving, this embrace of our common humanity,

As we stand before the centuries and millennia of all those lives

Echoing down and through time.

 

This is why we live our lives and do our work.

For each other . . . To hold the hands

Of a dying friend.

 

Thank you, Earl . . . this one is for you.

David McCullough

April 3, 2025

Ethics Training for the Federal Government

 Place loyalty to the Constitution, laws, and ethical principles above private gain.

Put forth an honest effort in performing your duties.

Act impartially with no preferential treatment for private organizations or individuals.

Protect and conserve Federal property and other resources.

Disclose waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption to appropriate authorities.

Satisfy your obligations as citizens, including paying your taxes.

Obey laws providing Equal Opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap.

Don't hold financial interests that conflict with the performance of official duty.

Don't use nonpublic information to further any private interest.

Don't solicit or accept gifts from sources doing business with or otherwise seeking action from VA or gifts given because of official position.

Don't purport to bind the Government if you do not have authority to do so.

Don't use your public office for private gain.

Don't take actions that give the appearance that you are violating the law or ethical standard.

Don't engage in outside activities that conflict with your duties.

The above points in Bold are currently under review for deletion from the Federal Government in the name of efficiency and reducing waste, fraud and abuse.  They will be eliminated.  Comment period will not be held.

Sent to me by anonymous (of course).