What it says in Rumsfeld's case is that there may be no legal or constitutional obligation for a responsible minister to resign over the Iraqi abuse scandal; but once upon a time it would have been regarded as a matter of honor that he does resign. Such a step not only demonstrates that the minister in question is fully aware of the burden of his responsibility, but also that he puts the integrity of democratic institutions above his personal interest, let alone the electoral prospects of those whom he served.
这也是第二种道德观¾荣誉之所在。这个词也许听上去老气横秋，但在拉姆斯菲尔德的问题上，它意味着也许宪法或法律没有要求部长为伊拉克疟俘丑闻辞职，但不久前相关人员的主动辞职曾被视作荣誉的象征。这种做法不仅表明这位部长已经认识到自己肩负的责任，而且表明他将民主制度的完整性置于个人利益之上，更不用说他为之服务的选民的期望了。