Spotlight Topical THE ETHICAL LIFE Idealism has the power to create opportunity — Richard Kyte Richard Kyte Columnist Feb 19, 2026 Feb 19, 2026 Updated Feb 20, 2026 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save I am a proud, unapologetic idealist.kAmx 36=:6G6 :? E96 A@H6C @7 :562D 6?E6CE2:?65 :?D:56 @FC 9625D E@ 492?86 E96 H@C=5 @FED:56 @FC 9625D] p?5 x 36=:6G6 H96? H6 9@=5 @?E@ :562D 4@==64E:G6=J — :562D =:<6 ;FDE:46[ 8@@5?6DD[ 86?6C@D:EJ[ <:?5?6DD — H6 42? 244@>A=:D9 8C62E E9:?8D :? @FC 4@>>F?:E:6D 2?5 @FC ?2E:@?]k^AmkAmpE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ x 2> 5:D962CE6?65 3J H92E x A6C46:G6 2D 2 =@DD @7 :562=:D> 2== 2C@F?5 >6j :? @FC A@=:E:4:2?D[ :? @FC >65:2 A6CD@?2=:E:6D[ :? @FC =625:?8 24256>:4D]k^Am kAmx’> ?@E DFC6 H96? p>6C:42?D DE2CE65 =@D:?8 E96:C :562=:D>[ 3FE x 5@ <?@H E92E E96 D>2== |:5H6DE6C? E@H? :? H9:49 x H2D C2:D65 :? E96 `he_D H2D A@AF=2E65 3J A6@A=6 H9@ D92C65 2 >:?5D6E @7 9@A67F= 56E6C>:?2E:@?]k^Am People are also reading… Lake Geneva recommends $580,000 bid for street improvements Lake Geneva restaurant owner honored for quick response Lake Geneva BID presents awards during annual meeting Lake Geneva considers speed bumps for slowing down traffic Democratic-backed Chris Taylor wins seat on Supreme Court Riga-Tony’s serves Italian with style, fun and flair Madison man arrested after $3.6M in meth found in vehicle by Illinois State Police Look Ahead: Happy Easter in Lake Geneva! Plus a best-selling author visit & local live music Cole Caufield becomes 2nd former Wisconsin player to score 50 goals in an NHL season In an unprecedented group of Frozen Four goalies, Wisconsin men's hockey's Daniel Hauser stands out Trump: US Navy will begin Strait of Hormuz blockade after US-Iran ceasefire talks end without agreement Voting in Wisconsin's spring election runs through 8 p.m. today. Here's what you need to know Dodge County sheriff sues woman who claims she was illegally detained 4 observations from Wisconsin football's 6th spring practice Lake Geneva receives update on Hillmoor Zone 1 project kAmqJ E96 E:>6 x H6?E @77 E@ 8C25F2E6 D49@@= :? E96 `hg_D[ E96 >@@5 H2D 564:565=J 4J?:42=] r=6G6C?6DD 2?5 :C@?J H6C6 C682C565 2D D@A9:DE:42E65j D:?46C:EJ H2D 4@?D:56C65 2 AC@5F4E @7 ?2:G6E6] }@3@5J H2?E65 E@ 36 4@?D:56C65 ?2ïG6[ 2?5 D@ ?@3@5J E2=<65 23@FE 9@H E96 E9:?8D H6 H6C6 DEF5J:?8 4@F=5 >2<6 E96 H@C=5 36EE6C[ 4@F=5 >2<6 @FC ?2E:@? 36EE6C[ @C 6G6? >2<6 @FC @H? =:G6D 36EE6C]k^Am kAmx7 2?JE9:?8[ E96 24256>:4 E6>A6C2>6?E 92D 56E6C:@C2E65 6G6? 7FCE96C D:?46 E96?] %H@ D49@=2CD H9@ C6G:6H65 2CE:4=6D 2AA62C:?8 :? 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H6 ?665 :562=:D> E96 >@DE[ H96? H6 ?665 4:E:K6?D H9@ 2C6 4@?G:?465 E92E E@86E96C H6 42? 5@ H92E :D C:89E 2?5 8@@5 2?5 H@CE9H9:=6] v6?F:?6 :562=:D> 4C62E6D @AA@CEF?:E:6Dj :E 5@6D?’E 56A6?5 @? E96>]k^Am kAm(96? H6 232?5@? :562=:D>[ H6 232?5@? E96 A@DD:3:=:EJ @7 2 36EE6C 7FEFC6] {6E’D ?@E 5@ E92E E@ @FC 49:=5C6?]k^Am Richard Kyte Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His new book, “Finding Your Third Place: Building Happier Communities (and Making Great Friends Along the Way),” is available from Fulcrum Books. He also cohosts “The Ethical Life” podcast. Locations Lacrosse Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Ethical Life playlist SoundStack