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KIDS OF CHARACTER 9/14/2009
Is Honesty A Convenience? Thomas Jefferson, our third president, once wrote: “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” These words ring true for government, business and community leaders as well as for every grandparent, parent and teacher focused on shaping the life of a budding kid of character. We live in a society where the media paints truth with the color grey; where perennial values are derided as unfashionable or at worst intellectually naïve; where moral behavior is driven by the god of situational ethics. Is it any wonder why voices of virtue, such as radio commentator and ethicist, Dennis Prager, devotes much of his weekly radio talk show to the theme of America’s broken moral compass? Personal honesty is the bedrock for every individual seeking to develop a life of character. Kids don’t know this fact unless they are told and shown by the mentoring adults in their life. One timeless axiom that every adult mentor can employ to help explore their own commitment to honesty as well as to model honesty with kids is: Say what you mean; and mean what you say. Let’s look closely at these words Say what you mean. Does this mean to be consistent with your words, regardless of who they are spoken to? Does that mean being personally motivated by ideals and ideas? Mean what you say. Does this mean demonstrating moral courage to stay the course when faced with a challenge? Does that mean admitting a mistake or error in judgment? It’s easy to compromise honesty. Saying what you mean and meaning what you say is like the silent candid camera witness to a person’s daily honesty barometer in their home, work and community. This virtue-building axiom is a turnkey for adults to use in teaching their budding Kids of Character, showing kids that honesty is not meant to be experienced like a fast-food product to be grabbed whenever it feels right and convenient; Rather honesty is the staple of a successful life. Like water sustains the body’s survival, honesty is the elixir that determines whether an individual will lead a life governed by ethical and moral principles.
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