The Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave
One of our readers of The Character Building Project suggest we read all four verses to our National Anthem…
The Star-Spangled Banner
O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming, Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream, ’Tis the star-spangled banner – O long may it wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore, That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion A home and a Country should leave us no more? Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave, And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation! Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation! Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,” And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Now enjoy listening to a retired Marine singing the little recalled, fourth verse.
http://www.youtube.com/v/I0fQd858cRc&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3
Whether viewing our nation’s motto on a dollar bill or in the last verse of the National Anthem, let’s not forget where to place our trust.
COURAGE IN AMERICA: Lessons For Our Country’s Civilians
My friend, noted author, speaker, and management consultant, Robert Porter Lynch took time away from his many projects to offer another view on courage. Robert’s thoughtful analysis (see below) has caused me to mediate much deeper on the virtue of courage. Having studied the character of ten exemplary characters in Politics with Principle and listened to several mentors, especially, Robert on “trust” and Paul Stoltz on “adversity,” I am now ready to offer my own analysis of courage, the first among the cardinal virtues. Continue reading
Key Ingredients to Good Character: Virtue, Trust, Resilience, Leadership
A goal of the Character Building Project CBP is to serve the character-building community by shining a light on its prominent thought leaders. Toward that end, in the last few months, we have identified dozens of character experts. Several have dedicated much of their entire professional life to enhancing character development through their research, writing and teaching. Four have found success by researching specific elements of good character such as handling adversity, exhibiting leadership, cultivating virtue, and building trust. These four authors provide us with valuable resources…
If An Honor Code Works For Students, Why Not For Politicians?
Before the Character Building Project claims an honor code should be required for candidates and possibly Members of Congress, let’s look deeper into the code of honor at the University of Virginia. As we see by the excerpts below from the official UVA site, the code began as a pledge, evolved into a code of conduct outside the classroom and has become a system of enforcement. Totally student run, without “adult supervision,” the system has, as our three UVA law school graduates tell me, worked well. Continue reading
EPIC QUEST: IMPROVING CHARACTER IN AMERICA
Hopefully, many will readers will appreciate Robert Porter Lynch’s commentary http://www.characters-with-character.com/blog/2011/3/14/collaboration-creates-extraordinary-results.html#comments and see the extraordinary result of our last post on “collaboration.”
Robert joins the Character Building Project (CBP) in calling for a our “highest quest,” a “symphony of synergies,” or as Robert states … Continue reading
COLLABORATION CREATES EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS
It occurred to me through the publication of Politics with Principle and by working on the Character Building Project (CBP), I am now approaching the ten thousand hour threshold of hours of practice Malcolm Gladwell proposed in his best selling book Outliers: The Story of Success. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1858880,00.html Continue reading
IMPROVING CHARACTER IN AMERICA
In profiling several prominent players such as, Robert Porter Lynch, Paul Stoltz, Steve Markel, Bob Hall, et al, I have been asked what’s up with the “character community.”
Part of the mission of The Character Building Project (CBP) is to provide support for and exposure to those working to improve character in America. After publishing Ten Characters with Character I was pleased to learn so many professionals have long labored in these virtue vineyards. By profiling several of the more prominent players my aim is to aggregate a critical mass of players and introduce them to the public at large. Continue reading
A GOOD START AT THE MORAL REGENERATION OF POLITICAL LIFE IN WASHINGTON…
The 112th Congress begins not necessarily from a clean slate and a pure heart, but from the actions of our elected officials as we find them… a mix of independents, conservatives, liberals and one or two socialists. Some will be virtuous and half virtuous; some will be smart and others foolish. When they arrive in January we will see how the men and women at the helm as well as the rank and file display courage when their character is tested. We will see how they use political power, for better or worse in accordance with their character. As keen observers know, political power magnifies a legislator’s character. For most, it amplifies their flaws, petty vices and vindictiveness. For some it magnifies their strengths, virtues and magnanimity. Continue reading
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES IF THE DECLINE OF CIVILITY CONTINUES?
There is an erosion of character-based leadership in our politics. Our country is more polarized than ever and cooperation is less common. Civility has not always prevailed in our country and its role in our political culture cannot be taken for granted. We have an increasingly uncivil congress and our campaigns are engaged in endless partisan warfare. Continue reading
Struggling With The Tenth: Amendment And Commandment
By now you have noticed we have been reviewing the seven deadly sins. Today we address one our culture celebrates perhaps above all others…avarice, covetousness or greed. Normally, we think of covetousness only as accumulating possessions but it also applies to inordinate desires of controlling people, power and organizations. Continue reading