Here’s a question. If character is important to our society, our schools are required to teach it, and our president annually proclaims the third week in October as National Character Counts Week, why are we hearing little or nothing about it from the media?
On October 14 of this year, President George W. Bush signed a proclamation that said, in part:
“During National Character Counts Week and throughout the year, I encourage children and all Americans to make good choices in life, set high standards, and serve as leaders. By working together, we can all contribute to a culture of good citizenship and responsibility that strengthens our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 16 through October 22, 2005, as National Character Counts Week. I call upon public officials, educators, librarians, parents, students, and all Americans to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.”
National Character Counts Week, proclaims the president, should be observed with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs. What are they? Where are they? Is there one in the White House? Is there one in Washington, D.C.? I checked out my own state at an online site listing what different states are doing in the way of observation, and found absolutely nothing. An adjoining state lists a single school that is involved, but in no special way. They are simply continuing their regular character education program. A second adjoining state has a single activity planned for one Boys and Girls Club. The third adjoining state has an activity listed by a single school – after school activities for those who care to participate.
National Character Counts Week? How does it count? We barely recognize it!
Certainly, there are many more observances of the week than those listed on the above-mentioned site, but the fact remains that character receives short shrift in our society. The media are, as I write, giving us 24/7 coverage on a dam that may or may not break in one of our states, but what about the dam of immorality that threatens to inundate every one of our states. The media are giving, too, ongoing coverage of a possible terrorist threat to a tunnel in one of our states, but I have seen no coverage yet this week on the terrorist threat to the architecture of society – the moral values that alone have kept us from crumbling into the dust.
It takes many hours of work to build a dam or a tunnel. It takes much less than an hour to reduce either to rubble. It took centuries to lay the foundations of our society, and build on them a civilization based on character, but the total lack of interest in National Character Counts Week indicates that we are intent on imploding that once-strong civilization. There is still time for someone, somewhere to insist on observing this week, but will they? I would love to hear from someone that is involved in such an observance.
That’s the view from my chair. What’s your view?