By Randy Speck (A five part series looking into characteristics of character…for both children and adults!)
Somewhere along the way, we lost our direction. In today’s society right choices have become the exception rather than the norm. Moral values and principles, once the foundation for our entire country, have been relegated to an election platform. Thomas Jefferson spoke to the idea of losing our conviction toward our creator when he said that the “God, who gave us life, gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed the conviction that these liberties are a gift from God.”
B. F. Skinner, the founder of Behavioral Psychology, countered Jefferson sometime later by saying “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are basic rights but…they have only a minor bearing on the survival of a culture.”
Jefferson states that our rights and liberties are a gift from our Creator and that our security as a nation depends on us continuing to realize that gift. Skinner, says that so-called gift has only a minor impact on our endurance. When popular culture speaks against our foundation as a country, what are we to believe, and most importantly, what are our children to believe?
There is a lot that is out there…media is rampant with both the traditional forms (television, radio and movies) and now the new media (social networks, blogs). The stuff that is coming at our children is at a fast pace. I’m amazed they have the ability to keep up as well as they do. Some of their ability is innate…that is, they just have the ability to stave off the attacks against their moral values. Others have learned through experiences what it takes to have strong character.
This is the first of a five part series that talks about the characteristics of a strong character. We will explore the qualities of responsibility, being a good role model, discipline and confidence. Whether we have asked to be in a leadership position or not, in some way or fashion we are all leaders. Whether it is at work, church or the home, we all have leadership responsibilities. I think these four attributes will be more than beneficial as we continue to explore ways to help us succeed.