Last week of classes for first class

I'm working on the final paper in what has been a whirlwind six weeks of study on Ethics in the communications professions. We were also asked to submit a reflective paper answering three basic questions about what we learned. I enclose my answers, herewith. Pardon the silliness at the end...I was getting a little tired, at the time.
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"What have I learned?"
I learned so much I cannot distill it all. One observation, as someone who has not been a student in 30 years, is that having the benefit of online lecture notes, reading and discourse is a huge assistance for assimilating new ideas and complex subjects. Being able to read, study, and re-read, synthesize additional information, and revisit information in a scaffolding process is an immense improvement over the endless reading of weighty and confusing tomes, panicked note-taking during lectures, and ridiculously inadequate study groups that I fear dominated most of my undergraduate studies long, long ago. Beyond the structure of the learning process, I learned how to do close reading, how an argument based on a logical fallacy is not valid, how various ethicists and philosophers define lying, how negative advertising in politics can arguably assist the voting process, how unethical actions of a few can have disastrous consequences for many, how important the establishment of shared ethics are for honest and open communication and corporate governance, how ethical codes can provide guideposts for proper behavior but ultimately cannot be enforced, to name a few.

"Has this 'rehearsing' a skill you already possess produced any pay-off?"
Actually, yes. Drawing a focus on these issues and case studies has fueled a renewed confidence in my own moral underpinnings and abilities to discern right from wrong. I had one instance last week, where a fellow PR practitioner and past Board member of our local chapter of PRSA challenged me on my personal ethics. This colleague had taken issue with my interpretation of some procedural descriptors in our chapter Bylaws regarding the preparation of the ballot for the incoming Board nominees. I guess you could say we were at polar opposites in our points of view: he, the “purist,” and I, the “pragmatist.” He insisted my actions were unethical (using internet-survey software/email instead of “snail mail” to deliver the ballot), but because I had thoroughly considered my own ethical posture, motivations, and actions before I acted, I was able to dismantle his argument. I still don’t have a clue as to what his motivations were for attacking me personally, but rather than shrink under his accusations and uncivil tone and words, I stood up for my actions, challenged his viewpoint and motivations, and still managed to remain (somewhat) composed. Rather than wither under his vitriol, I stood my ground. In order to accomplish my “ends,” (getting the ballot out in a timely and cost-effective manner), I bent to accommodate his concern with the means, (doing it by snail mail instead of email/survey mechanism) but have gained agreement from current Board members to revisit the language and intent of the Bylaws to bring them more in line with the reality of the world we live in, the matter of efficiently conducting the business of the chapter to which we have been (or soon will be, if we can get the ballot out) entrusted, and the technology we have at our disposal.

"What would you rank as the most important lesson to take away?"
Hmmm, again, a tough question. Not sure I could take away just one, but I might choose the concept that is closest to my own heart. I am reminded of that awesome scene in “Saving Private Ryan” when Capt. Miller, Tom Hanks’ character, is mortally wounded and leans over to Ryan and barely manages to utter “earn this” before he dies. One of the all-time most beautiful, poignant, memorable scenes in movie-making history, in my humble opinion. Not only is it imperative for us as Public Relations counselors to consciously and continually earn the right to the trust that our constituents, employers, colleagues and families place in us, but our hearts should be burdened for a fidelity to our own Code of Ethics, God and country! (Amen.)