“Character doesn’t matter,” a previous U.S. presidential candidate quipped nearly 20 years ago. It seems his words were taken to heart. As the world listens to and watches current campaigns, a number of candidates are showing that they believe his statement. The economy matters. The immigration issue matters (though not enough). Healthcare, foreign affairs, taxes […]
Character does not exist for the purpose of pleasing everyone. Think about it.
Late in 2007, a new Pennsylvania baseball team was deciding on a name for the team mascot. Wanting to involve sports fans, they solicited ideas from the public. They then asked the public to vote on the suggested names. The public chose, and […]
As we began the new year last week, I had occasion to read several things on the Internet about teaching tolerance to children and teenagers. Most educators and those teaching character lean toward teaching tolerance as acceptance – of nearly everything.
The exercise of tolerance, educators and coaches tell us, involves acceptance of other people’s individual […]
As I write this, the United States is remembering the Day of Infamy. It is the date, in 1941, when Japan launched an attack on the U.S. ships in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
So what does that have to do with character?
In 1981, the U.S. Navy commissioned me to write a book about the Day of Infamy: […]
Character plays fair in every area of life. Think about that. No matter who you are, where you are, and what you are doing, you play fair if you are a man or woman of character.
I read an example of this on my favorite news website today. It was about a young woman in China. […]
Mrs. Hillary Clinton, Democratic presidential candidate, or Clinton’s campaign people? It was learned last week that one or the other had “planted” specific questions that selected audience members would ask Clinton to answer. Clinton seems to have been obviously prepared for those specific questions. In addition, a Clinton staff member signaled Mrs. Clinton to let […]
Anti-bullying campaigns are beginning to spring up in schools across the U.S. There may be a similar campaign in your nation’s schools. Call them campaigns, initiatives, or programs, the aim is to curb bullying before it digs in its heels and takes root in a school. Usually, students in elementary schools are targeted. The hope […]
An Open Letter to President Bush
Dear President Bush:
You will soon proclaim October 21 to 27, 2007 as National Character Counts Week. That proclamation usually comes in mid-October. Every president, including you, has been doing so since 1994, and setting aside one week for a focus on character seems to be a worthy idea.
However, […]
As students return to school in the U.S., the news is filling rapidly with reports of student rebellion. The amazing thing is that students and some attorneys are claiming legal rights for the rebellion.
Want to wear a tee-shirt with a political message but it’s against your school dress code? Rebel and claim your right to […]
Many schools in the northern hemisphere begin a new year tomorrow. Educators launch new goals with new groups of students. Students return with varying degrees of eagerness and trepidation. Before the first week is done, both educators and students are likely to witness bullying.
Bullying is an unrelenting problem in schools. It occurs at every age […]