It has been a while since I wrote a general article about Advocacy.

I was reflecting upon the ethics surrounding advocacy situations where the issue is of high stakes and/or high profile, and the corporate or governmental body is in fundamental opposition to the values and objectives the advocate or the advocate's organization believes in.

Firstly, I don't believe that the ends justifies the means. And while there are situations where the position taken by the opposing side can appear distasteful, unjustifiable, unethical, illogical, or dishonest, etc., it is important to remember that we are all human beings. We all have loved ones, feelings, hopes and dreams.

Indeed, it is both easy and all too human to get caught up in one's passions and emotions, and to cast one's opposition as "evil" or "the enemy". But the world is never so black and white.

Vigorously representing one's arguments and facts is healthy, but it is important to remember that sometimes the person on the other side has no choice but to present a certain position regardless of their personal beliefs. And organizations themselves have their own psychology and pathology independent of the individuals within them. In fact, it is even possible to give an entire organization a mental health diagnosis just like an individual. I have personally witnessed those on the opposite side of an issue forced to defend a tenuous position they themselves did not believe in because of their employment. I felt great compassion for their internal conflict.

It is good to fight the good fight, to use all the tools at your disposal, and to enjoy the battle.  A chess game needn't be personal and should be fun. When your opponent loses, do not kick them when they are down. Do not rub their noses in their defeat. And when you lose, hold your head high knowing that you gave it your best and cared enough about something in life to try. Let the defeat go and learn from it.

I say these words not just for you, but also for myself.

Yes, the issues matter. But at the end of the day, you have to be able to live with yourself too. We also have to be able to live with each other, and to try to not create too much suffering around us.