Pride goes before a fall

Victor Davis Hanson has an interesting column today at RealClearPolitics comparing Congresswoman McKinney with Admiral Naughton. Both of them let their haughty arrogance get the best of them.

On New Year's Eve 2002, while I was a visiting professor at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, the superintendent - the distinguished three-star Vice Adm. Richard J. Naughton - tried to enter the academy without wearing the photo ID required of all military and civilian personnel.

Naturally expecting that the young Marine sentry on duty would recognize his all-important superintendent, Naughton boldly tried to pass. But instead, the Marine asked him to produce identification. Angry words and some sort of altercation ensued between the admiral and the enlisted man.

Later, Naughton claimed he couldn't "remember" whether he had "touched" the guard, but he did concede he "might" have done so.

After a lengthy, ultimately damming investigation, Naughton resigned - first from his post as academy superintendent and then subsequently from the Navy altogether. During the investigation, some skeptics at Annapolis had doubted whether Naughton would pay any price. But his exalted rank, along with his race and gender, won no exemption.

I mention the Naughton case to illustrate that such mix-ups at government checkpoints are not unusual - and that eventually public pressure catches up with aristocratic arrogance and even the powerful are held to account.

Arrogance is one of those unsavory characteristics that seem to be evident in people who don't have a sense of gratitude or graciousness. Is that overstating the obvious? They seem to think that their power or position is deserved and not a blessing from God and then they make the mistake of "lording it over others."

There's a running theme in the Bible that can be paraphrased something like this; he that humbles himself will be glorified and the proud will be brought low..

Mat 23:12 And whoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, and he who shall humble himself shall be exalted.

We're told to esteem others higher than ourselves. That's a pretty good definition of humility. It's a quality we don't often see in politicians.

When you observe foolish pride in someone it's just a matter of time before they fall ignominiously. Not that we should take pleasure in that sort of thing when it happens, but sometimes people are so despicable that their humiliation evokes a smile in even the best of us