Would Romney brag about his good deeds?
And should he?
Take a look. I’ve thought about this question before, and it’s quite a paradox. Here’s a guy the opposition is eager to paint as a rapacious and cruel capitalist exploiter, but who has been among the most generous of men with his time and his money.
But he’s also been mighty reticent about bragging on this stuff, so how best to get the message across to the American people? Somehow it would be highly embarrassing to have other people talk about him that way in his presence, so it probably would be better to do some of it when he’s not around. It definitely would have to be done through surrogates, though, and the touch would have to be very delicate.
Some people are unbelievably altruistic. Romney seems to be one of those people who genuinely wants to help others when he can. Where does this come from? Is it upbringing, religion, genetic effects, or? I don’t know, but Romney’s level of genersoity goes well beyond the norm in our society. Mitt’s record of charitable acts is such a contrast to Obama’s obvious self-centered narcissism. Any fair minded person who compared the two men’s records could not help but see the glaring contrast.
Hopefully there are many independents who will notice.
One of the tenets of the church I grew up in is that doing charity is good. Bragging about having done charity is bad. In fact, it is a sin. Charity should be done to help the needy for the glory of God and not for the aggrandizement of self.
Aint it a biatch when someone follows their religious doctrines?
Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give.’–Proverbs 25:14
But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. James 4:16
If you are wise and understand God’s ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only good deeds will pour forth. And if you don’t brag about the good you do, then you will be truly wise! But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your hearts, don’t brag about being wise. That is the worst kind of lie. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and motivated by the Devil. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness. James 3:13-18 (New Living Translation)
3 Proud fools talk too much; the words of the wise protect them. Proverbs chapter 14
23 Wise people don’t make a show of their knowledge, but fools broadcast their folly. Proverbs chapter 12
23 Arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected. Proverbs chapter 29
27 Too much honey is bad for you, and so is trying to win too much praise. Proverbs chapter 25
15 A fool will believe anything; smart people watch their step. Proverbs chapter 14
there is a lot more depending on how directly you want to look at it… also when people knew this stuff more, they would compare the behavior of the people with these teachings, and so the teachings constrained the behaviors till we forgot them, and no longer referenced them. moral momentum is confused for an actual sense of morality that exists beyond learning otherwise after childhood and base senses of fairness.
now whether this is what informs his behavior or not, i will never know. but i do know that once we as a peoples no longer had standards of behavior to hold people too, being that PC declares that state, its devolved to venting towards whoever a leader declares, even if standards are contradictory (and the reasons a mere decorative formality for appearances).
Let his wife tell about their life together and the way he has helped her and others. Is that bragging? Maybe. But she would also be talking about these things with a sense of gratitude. Maybe ask others who have benefited from his generosity to make testimonials. Have a Super PAC pay for it. Certainly there must be a way for people to say thanks without it being taken as bragging.
Was not the Pharisee so proud of his praying, and asserted his superiority over the tax collector? Where Mitt grew up, and how he was raised, touting one’s good deeds was looked down upon, probably as “keeping score”. Being seen to do, and known for doing good deeds is fine if it is in line with the rest of your life (family, friends, co-workers, associates).
Matthew 6:16-18 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
That’s about fasting, but I believe the point it makes is about ANYTHING you do. If it is a “good deed” of any kind, any sort of positive thing one does, if one does it and boasts about it, you’re doing it for the benefit of having the boasting opportunity… not because you wish to do good.
And yeah, that can be frustrating to resist. It’s very annoying to not be appreciated, even if that’s not the purpose of what you do.
Mitt needs to depend on others to say the good things about him, he can’t be the one to say it, nor can organizations he directs in any way. It has to be external.
Certainly, if he’s done good deeds, the others should be able to find out about them and then publicize them, even more so with a comparison of what The One has done.
“It definitely would have to be done through surrogates, though, and the touch would have to be very delicate.”
One thing is for certain, the MSM will not be mentioning MR’s generosity.
I agree, N-Neocon, that care must be exercised on this topic. How about a surrogate–properly times–named Paul Ryan?
I’m willing to be his surrogate in my own little way. ;^) I have a white board sign outside my house, I am going to alternate things about Obama (Today I put “Hope and Change has become “Hype and Blame”. Nobama 2012 ) with positive things about Romney Tomorrow I will put something like “Romney helped saved the daughter of his business partner” or “Romney helped save a family from drowning” with links.