Let's Not Build Walls, Let's Build Credibility

Aristotle, who was passionate about and perhaps the greatest practitioner of rhetoric, said that ethos is the most effective mode of persuasion. Speaking of ethos (credibility) he said, "Persuasion is achieved by the speaker's personal character when the speech is so spoken as to make us think him [or her] credible. We believe good [people] more fully and more readily than others." We are at the end of an exhausting political season where both top presidential candidates (not to speak of plenty of state and local candidates) seriously lacked credibility. It will remain to be seen if any of the politicians elected this year will prove themselves as people of good character. If history has anything to say about it, I wouldn't hold my breath in hope! Prisoners who are working to reform themselves face a credibility problem. Their prior credibility is normally shot and many prisoners continue to damage their credibility during their incarceration by minimizing their crimes, continuing violent behavior, and manipulating family and friends. Other prisoners try desperately to build their credibility, yet their efforts are rebuffed and they find it difficult to overcome their failures from the past. Most people cannot build credibility simply with speeches of unity and promises of reform, and prisoners are no different. To build credibility after damaging or destroying it, prisoners (and others!) must follow these principles: 1. Deal only with the truth. Whether it relates to discussing one's crime or simply in daily conversation, truth is an essential element of building credibility. 2. Develop a habit of faithfulness. Be faithful to your word and faithful to your convictions and values. Practice what you say you value. 3. Treat others with respect. People respect others who show people respect. People with different views and beliefs still deserve to be treated with dignity as image bearers of God. 4. Speak only about what you know and only when it is appropriate to speak. Prisoners gossip and spread rumors too much. They also claim knowledge they don't have. Study what you don't know so you are prepared to speak intelligently at the right time. 5. Be quick to ask for forgiveness and generous when giving it out. Someone who can easily admit he is wrong will often earn the respect of others. Likewise, one who recognizes that he who is forgiven much must also forgive much will gain the respect of others. Building credibility takes time and consistency, but nothing precludes starting today. Prison does not have to define someone, but just like those who destroy their credibility but don't end up in prison, prisoners must be intentional about rebuilding (or building!) their character and by extension their credibility. [Aristotle's quote comes from "The Rhetoric", Aristotle (1984), H.R. Roberts Tr., New York, The Modern Library]