Every month, I offer up a few of the ethical hits and misses during the last 30 days. Texas Vacation – Nothing says “I love you,” better than bringing the whole family to the Alamo Gun Rally in San Antonio, Texas. “Angela L. Pena brought her family to the Alamo on Saturday,”The New York Times reported, (Oct. 20). “She also brought...

In 1898, an exchange took place between Frederic Remington and his boss, William Randolph Hearst. Hearst had sent the artist to Havana to sketch pictures of hostilities purportedly taking place in Cuba. Remington wired, “Everything is quiet. No trouble here. There will be no war. I wish to return.” Hearst responded, “You furnish the pictures… I’ll furnish the war.” While...

Okay, boys and girls, it’s ethical dilemma time! Last week, two politicians were caught, on an open mic, sharing strategy points. Moments before Senate Minority Leader McConnell was due to be interviewed on MSNBC, this brief conversation occurred with Senator Paul: McConnell (as Paul walks up): I’m all wired-up, here. Paul: I just did CNN, and I just go over and over again,...

CSI is a CBS-TV crime drama that follows “Crime Scene Investigators” – like William Peterson, Ted Danson, Elizabeth Shue and others – as they solve murders using science and analytical skills. ESI is my own ethical-sense investigative process used in researching and examining stories like the three-part series, Conspiracy Theory. (Think of me as Ted Danson… with darker hair.) The purpose of...

Early in All the President’s Men – a film that follows Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein track down and piece together the 1972 Watergate scandal – there’s a moment where editor Harry Rosenfeld is listening to Woodward read through a list of the five men caught in the break-in at the Watergate complex. When Woodward mentions that one of the...

Who was Michael Hastings and why would anyone want to assassinate him? Author-Journalist Michael Hastings was a reporter for the Internet based website, BuzzFeed and contributing editor to Rolling Stone magazine. Hastings profile rose after an interview he conducted with General Stanley McChrystal in which the four-star general was both candid and critical of individuals in the Obama administration. Hastings himself spoke...

“Evidence Indicates Michael Hastings Was Assassinated” “Hastings Sent Chilling E-mail to Colleagues Before Death” “Did the Pentagon Murder Journalist Michael Hastings?” Those are just a few of the story links that stood at the top of a Google search I conducted into the death of Michael Hastings. I’m not in the habit of running down conspiracy theories that are suggested...

O’Reilly apologizes, Trump doesn’t, a Montana judge needs some fresh air and the NFL steps up. 14.2.3.2.1. – That’s the little-known bylaw in the N.C.A.A. rule book that said that former Marine Steven Rhodes had to forfeit two years of eligibility due to his former participation in an organized football league – “with publicized schedules, official scoring and predetermined rosters”...

Before  The E.T. goes on vacation, a few words. It’s Snowden in Russia – NSA leaker Edward Snowden finally comes out from a cold… Moscow transit lounge, but don’t get rid of the snow clothes yet, Ed! Let’s see if a year in this country will change his outlook on government intrusion on privacy. Feel free to speak out on government oppression....

You are an ER doctor at a hospital who has just admitted a motorcyclist in his thirties who has sustained serious, but not life threatening, injuries due to drinking. You are scheduled to attend the patient who’s described as a “mean drunk.” This is what Dr. Pauline Chen faced while treating a patient. “I’m sure it freaked him out to...