Latest news with #moralvalues
Fox News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Sharon Stone says she and her family 'wouldn't have survived' without middle American values
Actress Sharon Stone joined NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers" on Wednesday, telling the host that "grounded moral values" shaped her life — and the lives of her three adopted sons.
Malay Mail
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Madani framework remains grounded in strong moral values, national unity, says Anwar
PUTRAJAYA, July 28 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring that Malaysia's development under the Madani framework remains grounded in strong moral values and national unity. Speaking at a 'Majlis Ilmu Madani' event with Islamic scholars at Kompleks Seri Perdana here yesterday, Anwar said that even though Malaysia is a multiracial country, the values of Islam are important in guiding its future. He added that while Malaysia wants to keep up with modern technology and move forward quickly, it should always stay true to strong morals and compassion. 'We need to progress. We need to ensure that there is peace and political stability, to craft an economic move forward at a faster pace, an accelerated pace. But at the same time, we are mindful of the fact that as Muslims, the issue of values is very pertinent,' he said. Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. Yusuf Islam, the British musician formerly known as Cat Stevens and Dr Shaykha Haifaa Younis, an American Board Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist who is also a prominent Islamic scholar, were also present. On Gaza, Anwar said the world must not forget the pain and suffering endured by the Palestinian people amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Meanwhile, Haifaa also shared her Gaza journey where the place transformed her into a more spiritual person and left an unshakable imprint on her heart. 'The ummah (the Muslim community) is going through a tough time. Gaza is bleeding. It hurts deeply when I raise my hands to Allah, I know everyone is doing their best, but still I ask, what more can we do. 'They (people in Gaza) taught me patience. They taught me how to trust Allah, even when the world around you is falling apart. I saw people who did not know when the next bomb would fall but they still prayed,' she added. Meanwhile, Quran expert Syeikh Dr Ahmad Aissa Hassan El-Ma'sarawi said the Madani knowledge gatherings held by Anwar every month should continue because it is similar to the practice of leaders during the time of the Rightly Guided Caliphs who made their homes available for the people to listen to knowledge gatherings. The scholar, who delivered a tausiyah (religious guidance) in Arabic and translated by Mohd Na'im, also advised Muslims to continue to adhere to the Quran and obey the commands and prohibitions as stated in the holy book. 'When we return to the Quran, Allah will protect us and we will be successful people,' he said. — Bernama
Free Malaysia Today
26-07-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
Kemumin raid based on credible intelligence, police say
Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat advised the public not to spread unverified information and to continue cooperating with the authorities to preserve harmony in the state. (Bernama pic) KOTA BHARU : Police say the recent raid on a private gathering at a homestay in Kemumin was based on valid intelligence and evidence, with no intent of discrimination. Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat said the operation was carried out to maintain public order and safeguard moral values. He said intelligence revealed that invitations to the event, 'Majlis Malam Mesra Komuniti & Santai-Santai', were shared via WhatsApp within a select group, with no involvement by any official body such as an NGO or the health ministry. 'On the day of the event, the Kelantan police task force began surveillance at 5pm and observed around 100 individuals gathering to eat and socialise. The raid was carried out at about 1am to ensure public safety,' he said in a statement. He added that 20 individuals at the premises admitted to being part of the gay community, including a man from Perak and a student from a higher education institution in Besut, Terengganu. The rest were locals from Kelantan. Yusoff said checks of the participants' mobile phones found three individuals in possession of pornographic videos involving same-sex acts. 'All three were charged under Section 292 of the Penal Code and pleaded guilty in the Kota Bharu magistrates' court on July 20. They were fined between RM3,000 and RM4,000,' he said. The raid also uncovered hundreds of condoms and several boxes of HIV medication. Yusoff advised the public not to spread unverified information and to continue cooperating with the authorities to preserve harmony in the state. On Monday, the Kelantan government reminded all parties to inform local authorities and the relevant agencies before organising any events, to avoid confusion, misunderstanding, and negative public perceptions. Deputy menteri besar Mohamed Fadzli Hassan said that events, including health-related programmes, should be conducted properly and in accordance with procedures and regulations.
Forbes
25-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How Much Should Values Guide Business Decisions? The Price Of Moral Leadership
While individuals express continued support for ethical causes, their willingness to bear personal ... More costs for these causes varies significantly. In today's interconnected world, leaders frequently encounter dilemmas where moral convictions intersect with economic realities. Just how can they best manage this intricate balance and negotiate the costs associated with upholding their values? Our book, The Price of Our Values: The Economic Limits of Moral Life argues that our moral decisions cannot be dissociated from economic considerations. We conducted surveys across France, Germany and the United States which reveal that while individuals express continued support for ethical causes, their willingness to bear personal costs for these causes varies significantly. For instance, many support human rights initiatives but hesitate when such support entails higher consumer prices. We try to highlight scenarios where ethical choices meet everyday decisions. For example, during energy crises, individuals may be urged to reduce consumption to support broader geopolitical goals. However, the willingness to make such sacrifices often depends on the perceived personal cost. Our moral commitments are often fragile when tested against the realities of personal cost. We show that individuals who strongly endorse moral causes in principle - such as defending human rights or promoting sustainability - often back down when asked to make large concrete sacrifices, whether as voters, consumers, or investors. This isn't a cynical observation. It's a necessary one, especially for leaders. If we want to build purpose-driven organizations that are more than rhetorical facades, we need to understand the real trade-offs that govern moral decision-making - and how to lead through them. Morality Has A Cost Our core finding is that moral ideals come with a price tag - and for most people, the price they are willing to pay to meet moral ideals is limited. Even when individuals say they care about a cause, their actual willingness to make trade-offs (to spend more, to accept inconvenience, to reduce personal or collective gain) drops off sharply once the cost crosses a certain threshold. This 'bounded morality' doesn't imply people are hypocrites. Rather, it reveals the economic conditions under which their values are activated - or suspended. Someone may strongly support fair labor practices but still choose fast fashion when the ethical alternative costs $25 more. Or they may demand that a firm divest from polluting industries but oppose a pension fund strategy that slightly reduces financial returns to do so. Consider the case of energy consumption during the winter of 2022–2023. European governments urged citizens to reduce usage in solidarity with Ukraine and to limit dependence on Russian gas. But public response was mixed - not because citizens were indifferent to the war, but because the moral cost (cold homes, higher bills) became real. Sacrifice works when it is realistic. Leaders must not ignore this behavioral reality. Appeals to values are effective, but they have limits. Overlooking the economic boundaries of moral engagement leads to failed initiatives, employee frustration, and reputational Means Transparency About Trade-offs This research offers warnings - and remedies. We believe that understanding the price of values can help leaders better design policies, strategies, and communications that account for the real preferences of their teams, customers, and investors. In practice, we see two leadership traps that arise from moral overreach: What does effective moral leadership entail? It is not about moral heroism but rather transparency regarding trade-offs. Ethical choices are rarely costless; leaders must openly acknowledge this fact. When advocating for moral decisions—such as cutting ties with a supplier accused of labor violations—leaders should clearly outline the associated financial and operational consequences. Inviting stakeholders to explicitly express their priorities and to deliberate about who should bear these costs fosters genuine dialogue. One practical method is using surveys. Our research shows that when people understand the concrete costs tied to moral decisions, they move away from moral absolutism, candidly revealing how much they are prepared to sacrifice financially to uphold their values. Surveying stakeholders about these trade-offs is especially valuable for corporate and political leaders, as it helps anticipate realistic public reactions. Such surveys also facilitate collective deliberation, making stakeholders co-owners of ethical decisions. Transparency about these trade-offs ultimately builds trust, maturity, and active engagement. We wrote The Price of Our Values not to diminish the role of ethics in leadership, but to ground it in economic and psychological realism. Too often, leaders are stuck between moral maximalism and cynical cost-cutting. There is a better way - one that acknowledges the limits of human motivation and enables people to act decently without demanding sainthood. For leaders, the key takeaway is the importance of aligning moral aspirations with practical strategies, ensuring that value-driven initiatives are both principled and Landier is Professor of Finance at HEC Paris David Thesmar is Professor of Finance at MIT Sloan School of Management Daniel Brown is Head of HEC Research Communications at HEC Paris.
South China Morning Post
21-06-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Giving up seats to elderly should be an easy decision in China
Chinese civilisation is deeply rooted in the virtues of sympathy, respect and love towards the elderly. For instance, Confucian teachings promote the idea that filial piety is the root of virtue and place great emphasis on the moral duty of the younger generation to care for and honour their elders. This long-standing cultural ideal has helped shape familial relationships and defined broader societal norms. Needless to say, there are numerous examples of preserving filial piety. Yet in today's fast-paced and increasingly individualistic society, these values are too often forgotten or neglected. Two recent videos have gone viral on Chinese social media and reignited public debate about the possible erosion of moral values in China. In the first video, an elderly woman asked a young woman to vacate a courtesy seat on a subway. Rather than showing empathy or understanding, several nearby young passengers criticised the elderly woman, claiming she should avoid public transport during rush hour altogether because young people need to have a seat to rest after a day's hard work. The situation became even more distressing when the young woman refused to move. This prompted the elderly woman to attempt to sit on the young woman before the latter pushed her away. In the second incident, an 83-year-old man leaning on a cane asked a young man to give up his seat on a crowded train. The young man refused. In a moment of exasperation, the elderly man reached out and pulled at the youth's arm, leading to a verbal confrontation. Their argument quickly escalated, drawing the attention of other passengers and raising questions about boundaries, entitlement and basic decency. In response to this incident, staff at the subway authority in Shanghai offered little in the way of guidance on how such situations could be avoided in the future.
