SPIRITUAL SUPPORT FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES
Imagine facing one of the most difficult. Lonely and challenging times of your life, only to find yourself cut off from spiritual support and Christian Community. This is the experience of many of our United States service men and women around the world. Continue reading
Let’s Not Confuse the Need for Character Development with Poor Outcomes of Government Funded Projects
We continue our conversation about Courage in America and whether selfless service can be taught and become a way of life. Not all comments from the readers of the Character Building Project think it is possible. For example, “Hi-Fi” takes issue with our observation that character education is being successfully taught at our military institutions and religious colleges: Continue reading
Good Character Marches On
Over the last five years, I have dedicated myself to studying the formation of character in our culture. Politics with Principle, for example, analyzed the character development of ten characters with character. One of those characters, Admiral Tom Lynch, the former Superintendent of the Naval Academy, encouraged me to look closely at the formation of character at the Naval Academy as well as at other of our nation’s military academies. As a result of that effort, I have discovered the fact that the Coast Guard, Air Force, Naval, and Army academies are institutions offering world-class leader-development. They have been, and continue to be, breeding grounds for future leaders with good character. Continue reading
Choosing the Harder Right Instead of the Easier Wrong
Unlike the amoral agenda set by Professor Mearsheimer at the University of Chicago (please see last post), the education offered to potential Army officers does indeed include building a moral foundation for one’s actions. In fact, the importance of developing a sound moral compass during West Point leadership training is reflected in their Cadet’s Prayer, a prayer in use there since 1924.
Elite schools… mum on ethical issues?
Our last post addressed what appears to be an awareness gap among America’s college-age youth. It was timely and hit a responsive chord among many readers. Several reacted to Tuesday’s Character Building Project post that discussed how today’s college students have a surprising lack of connection to the number of their peers who are putting their lives on the line in military service to our nation. Continue reading
Why Have an Honor Code?
Even after our post on the Character Building Project about the University of Virginia’s 169-year honor system, some still ask why have an honor code? The best answer I offer is straight from the United States Military Academy http://www.usma.edu/committees/honor/info/main.htm Continue reading
THE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC TRUST: TEACHING VALUES ESSENTIAL FOR PUBLIC SERVICE
University students devote considerable time to studying science, philosophy, religion and art. Wise students use these disciplines to seek the answer to the question Aristotle asked centuries ago: How should one lead one’s life? As students leave school and progress onto their working career, hopefully, they will have gained some insights and answer that question correctly. After college life becomes as the poet T.S. Eliot describes: “As we grow older, the world becomes stranger, the patterns more complicated.” It takes moral strength to lead one’s life well, to persevere over a lifetime in the discharge of our duties to God, family, and country. Continue reading
WHERE EAGLES FLY AND CHARACTER GROWS
Bill, thank you for today’s splendid, timely and hopeful column… From The South Bronx to West Point. Another nice touch was for you to notice the credo* on the wall outside the principal’s office. In writing Politics with Principle: Ten Character with Character, I researched the strong family and religious life my characters were fortunate enough to possess. As a result, I often wonder how those less fortunate and lacking the necessary character foundation are going to make it in today’s society. Hence the creation of The Character Building Project. Continue reading