After that, everything is permissible in the pursuit of your own integrity and Independence, from the Empire, from those who would rule you.

Kate Bornstein on What It Takes to Survive

I bought her books and went to see her speak in the winter after the towers came down. That was my turning point in the hell that was Atlanta.

I thought very highly of her then, and I was glad to see that I still can now.

***

I did some etymology on the word ‘integrity’, hoping that ‘grit’ meant something on its own. But not so much.

It’s just from “integer”, which is a wholeness, as in a whole number

as opposed to a fraction.

To have integrity is to live Untouched:

in- meaning “not”
+
tangere “to touch”

Why do we have separate words for Integrity and Intangible when they mean the same thing?

Answering that question is left as an exercise, for you, dear reader, on this specific holiday.