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Community involvement isn't an option, it's a necessity. Monday, November, 23, 2009
Ending Homelessness Requires Affordable Housing And Community Support Wednesday, November, 18, 2009
Word Of The Year: "Unfriend" Tuesday, November, 10, 2009
The Dishonoring Of A Nation Monday, November, 2, 2009
Want To End Homelessness? Stop Offering Homeless Support Services. Tuesday, October, 27, 2009
Are "Sleep Out For The Homeless" Events Actually Effective? Friday, October, 23, 2009
Did You Know This Was "National Character Counts Week" ?
Friday, October, 23, 2009
Did You Know This Was "National Character Counts Week" ?
If you didn't know that it was National Character Counts Week, don't feel too bad. Very few Americans – if any – were aware of it either. And, for good reason, too: this is the first year we've had one.
This past Monday, Senator Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) submitted a resolution – S.R. 314 – to the U.S. Senate for the purpose of designating the third week in October as National Character Counts Week.
The resolution was meant as a way to encourage Americans to embrace the development of personal character in our nation's youth. But, when I first read the title of the resolution, because of the often times dual applicability of words in the English language, I interpreted it as meaning national rather than individual character.
Personally, I believe that both, individual and national character go hand in hand.
In his remarks to the Senate, Senator Dodd, in part, said,
"… our core ethical values aren't just important to us as individuals -- they form the very foundation of democratic society. We know that in order to face our challenges as communities and as a Nation, we need our children to be both well-educated and trained -- and that begins with instilling character in our children."
Senator Dodd also stated that "… trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, citizenship, and honesty" where examples of character which "… [transcended] cultural, religious, and socioeconomic differences."
In the end, the resolution and its preamble were agreed to by the Senate.
I applaud Senator Dodd and the resolutions' co-sponsors in their efforts of encouraging the development of character in our nation's youth. Yet, it's going to take a lot more than just trying to educate them about the benefits of having a strong, moral character. It's going to take our teaching them by way of example. That means we adults will have to practice what we preach.
That may prove to be the proverbial stumbling block.
To quote Abigail Van Buren: "The best index to a person's character is (a) how he treats people who can't do him any good, and (b) how he treats people who can't fight back."
When I think of how so many communities have marginalized their local homeless, I have to question what that says of us as a nation.
Does it speak well of our individual or national character? Or, does it say that we're all talk and no action? And, what message are our attitudes toward the homeless sending to our nation's youth?
We cannot make claims of being a nation of good character while ignoring those members of our society – such as the homeless – who are the most vulnerable. Nor, can we expect our nation's youth to embrace wanting to be people of character if we ourselves do not exhibit the "fruits" of good moral conduct.
I hope that National Character Counts Week gains a strong foothold.
More importantly, I hope that the ideal of developing good, moral character within all of us becomes the norm.
Please fill in the form below.
Should Communities Force Homeless People Into Shelters? Monday, February 8, 2010
Is marriage the solution to poverty or is it the cause of poverty? Thursday, October 4, 2007
Architecture for the Homeless Monday, October 15, 2007
Fire Used To Kill Homeless Man Thursday, October 1, 2009
Every Homeless Person Should Become A Millionaire and Have A Porn Star Hang On His Arm
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