Donating to The Salvation Army? You may be “giving” more than you think!

17 September 2013

If you are a regular reader of my postings then you realize the emphasis that I place on ethics and morality. Also that in any endeavor one must practice what they preach or "walk it like they talk it" so to say. Here is another story about responsibility that may surprise you.

I often make trips to downtown Indianapolis or the Broad Ripple area, riding a bicycle to do so. My parents live near Butler University and thus this provides me with opportunities to refuel, change clothes, jump on-line, and rest briefly. When I arrived a week ago I followed my usual routine. As I sat on the front porch I removed my shoe covers, shoes, and both pair of gloves. I shoved those against the wall opposite some boxes of items that were awaiting pick-up from The Salvation Army. I then proceeded inside where I removed my cycling clothes and got into some street clothes. I was going to put my clothes on hangers and hang them from the hooks in the ceiling that are for the potted plants but I reasoned that those clothes may get considered as donations. Instead I laid them across the back of the lawn chairs on the porch.

As mid day approached I was on my way to the Indiana Government Center for a meeting. I returned early in the afternoon and prepared a lunch and rested. It was during this time that The Salvation Army guys showed up. The first guy who comes upon the porch sees my cycling accessories and digs through those. He settles upon one of the pair of gloves and puts those into a box of the items to be donated. What he didn't realize is that my mother was observing him through the solid glass french doors from inside the house. She then went onto the porch, returned the gloves to their original place and told the man that she saw him rifle through the pile, he knows that those are not items to be donated, and that he better not steal anything else.

I planned to make it a day their house as I was going to the law school in the evening. Upon returning I decided to stay overnight and head home first thing in the morning. Shortly after sunrise I go onto the porch to retrieve my clothing. Everything is there, including other valuables, except my cycling shirt. I searched the porch to no avail. Clearly, it appeared, someone had come upon the porch and stolen my shirt only.

So I grab a shirt that I keep in the house and head home. I rode down again on Wednesday and mentioned my dismay that someone would take only my shirt. That is when I heard the story of my gloves. Now, I am not saying that the Salvation Army guy took my shirt. What I am saying is that he had attempted to take my gloves, the shirt was the only item within arms' reach from where he was retrieving items, and other much more valuable items of mine had been on the porch for weeks and hadn't been disturbed. In the criminal justice context we would call this circumstantial evidence.

My mother immediately contacts The Salvation Army and gets moved up the chain of command until she ceases upon leaving a voice mail with a head-honcho. A report of the theft was also made to Metro PD.

As of this time, nearly a week later, there is no response. It may be conceivable that any organization could have this type of person within it. There are, however, organizations where this won't happen. Those are the ones with a top-down ethic that absolutely forbids such action. They follow a particular protocol which includes an authoritative discipline. There is also a practice which must be followed that The Salvation Army has missed.

The ethical lapse in the Salvation Army organization is aptly demonstrated by the lack of response from any of the numerous people within the management echelon who were contacted about this alleged theft by an employee. That is the sign of the true character of this organization. It's the very thing that brought disrepute, among objective observers, to the world's largest and most organized child-molestation ring – the Catholic Church – which is still raising money to pay off settlements and legal fees amassed in an effort to hide the truth from the public about their systemic penchant for sex with children. The Salvation Army is no different in it's response.

Character is not defined by name or intention but in actions. This is a contention that I stress to parents whose families or lives are in chaos or distress. Ethics and morality must be demonstrated, especially to children, when one seeks an ethical or moral response. Expectations must be communicated in a coherent manner that embraces feedback. All feedback must receive a timely and appropriate response. That is a demonstration of character.

The Salvation Army doesn't need donations, especially “donations” that cost the donors a bit more than expected, but instead and morality and ethics check.

If your clients' case involves allegations of neglect, immorality or failure to discipline then please visit my website and contact my scheduler to make an appointment to meet with me. There is no charge for initial attorney consultations.

If you would like to follow my activities more closely then send a friend request to my Political FaceBook page.

Subscribe to this blawg.

More information about child custody rights and procedures may be found on the Indiana Custodial Rights Advocates website.

©2008, 2013 Stuart Showalter, LLC. Permission is granted to all non-commercial entities to reproduce this article in it's entirety with credit given.

IndyCar racing, integrity, building your custody case and why you must participate in a boycott

11 September 2013

Every time a client makes a case to me for an appeal it begins with the challenge to adverse witness testimony. This usually involves an accusation that the witness lied or that there was competing contradictory testimony from my clients' side. The Indiana Court of Appeals has been clear on this issue – it will neither reweigh the evidence nor judge the credibility of witnesses. See Kondamuri v. Kondamuri, 852 N.E.2d 939, 946 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006). The court reasons “we afford the trial court considerable deference as it is the trial court that observes the parties’ conduct and demeanor and hears their testimony.”

Thus, it is imperative that witnesses demonstrate integrity to the trial court judge. The best way to do this is to practice integrity and live by proper ethical and moral codes. This may include sacrifice of wants and convenience on your part but when the custody of your children is at stake then those become a non-issue. A recent event in the sports world provides a great example of integrity, or lack thereof, and an opportunity for an appropriate response.

On 01 September 2013 IndyCar ran the worst auto race I have ever seen. That issue aside there was a huge ethical dilemma that occurred that day. In one of the numerous crashes during that race Scott Dixon – number two in the points standing – was pushed into the wall and the car stalled. Dixon exited the car and returned to the pit but IndyCar officials refused to return the car the to Target Chip Ganassi Racing stall for repair and reintroduction to the race so Dixon could increase his points standing. After a controversial penalty for Dixon the week prior Dixon was rightly upset by the IndyCar officials to not allow him to continue racing and accumulate points towards the championship.

Dixon expressed his disagreement with those decisions by IndyCar officials and he called for race director Beaux Barfield to be fired. Barfield, whose thin skin can't handle criticism, demonstrated his continued lack of integrity by fining Dixon $30,000. "Reflecting on it, I shouldn't have been so outspoken and I probably will be fined for it and I respect that," Dixon told The Associated Press last Wednesday. "For me, I love the sport, I want to see it better and what I did didn't help.

Dixon made a clear error by back-peddling on his comments. Dixon was justified in his condemnation of IndyCar. No sporting body should show favourtism towards or hinder any participant without just cause. That is what IndyCar has done and so has the Indianapolis Motor Speedway through its' unwritten and arbitrarily enforced rules. IndyCar has no integrity and based upon other past events neither does the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I therefore have a moral and ethical obligation to no longer attend any event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway or race conducted by IndyCar. I will abide by that obligation even though I have attended the Indy 500 all but about four times since 1978. If you see me at that track again please come kick me in the balls because I will deserve it. Dixon should demonstrate equal ethical strength by doing the same. Instead though he joined the sell-outs who compromise integrity for dollars. Dixon got fined and put on probation so he essentially withdrew his objection to the capricious manner in which IndyCar officials, Barfield in particular, run the racing series.

Integrity is vital. This is not just for parents experiencing child custody litigation but for all parents -- all people. Parents should demonstrate to children that those who are morally malignant will not be supported. If you are morally and ethically principled then you must show a deprecate response which, when it comes to these unethical businesses, is done through a boycott. This is not just Indycar but all businesses that have unethical practices. Wal-Mart, General Motors, Blockbuster Video, Dell Computer, Radio Shack, AT&T, and Sprint are just a few of the businesses which I will NEVER have a financial relationship with again because of their lack of ethics.

This moral and ethical adherence must be absolute, not just at times of convenience or outrage. Practicing this behaviour carries itself over into daily living including potential child custody litigation. Much in the way that practicing yoga and daily meditation has what can be perceived as indirect benefits so does living by an absolute moral and ethical code that includes not supporting or encouraging others to behave immorally or unethically. Living a moral and ethical life doesn't end with your direct actions but includes your choice also of whom you associate with or support. Don't let financial greed bankrupt your integrity.

If your clients' case involves conflicting accounts of the facts and you want to ensure his or her credibility in court then please visit my website and contact my scheduler to make an appointment to meet with me. There is no charge for initial attorney consultations.

If you would like to follow my activities more closely then send a friend request to my Political FaceBook page.

Subscribe to this blawg.

More information about child custody rights and procedures may be found on the Indiana Custodial Rights Advocates website.

©2008, 2013 Stuart Showalter, LLC. Permission is granted to all non-commercial entities to reproduce this article in it's entirety with credit given.