Character Matters

More than anything

John Adams’ Blessing Carved into the State Dining Room Mantel by Michael Geissinger, c. 1945 (public domain - White House Historical Association)

“History has shown us that character counts. Character above all.” ― David McCullough, 2008

Growing up, I had a strong sense of character. It started at home, where I learned kindness, curiosity, spirituality, humility, gratitude, and other virtues.

It also extended into civic organizations I participated in, such as the Boy Scouts and Boys State¹, where I learned about duty, honor, integrity, teamwork, and selflessness.

It seems that there is a crisis of character of late, where we are exposed to leaders of all kinds who practice greed, fraud, injustice, hypocrisy, gaslighting, cruelty, and cowardice in public without a hint of shame.