Does Character Matter?
Equity & Compassion for All
Does Character Matter?
Back in 2019 I wrote a blog post about sometimes feeling like a square peg in a round hole: Kindergarten Values in a Quid Pro Quo World.
Reading that post today, it feels like the observations expressed then are not only still present in our country, but that the division between people with the Kindergarten values and those with what I then called the “deal-making” values have become more extreme.
Today I view that split among Americans a little differently. It’s a matter of good character versus extreme selfish character. Similar to what had been described as “Kindergarten values,” I view people of good character to be those who respect other people, who lend a helping hand to those in need, who are open to new ideas and willing to change their behavior and opinions when the facts show they are wrong, who value the well-being of the community above maximizing personal wealth and power, and who are truthful and obedient to principles of fairness and justice.
Instead of embracing the principles behind what I consider good character, American society has produced many individuals who hoard wealth to enhance their own power, and advocate for changes in society that harm the poor, women, immigrants and other marginalized group. They trick individuals into supporting them by pretending to fight corruption, while engaging in the very behaviors they pretend to oppose. In this group of people compassion is to be avoided, a sign of weakness. Truth and equity don’t matter. Strangely, they often claim to be Christian while ignoring the lessons of love and charity that were taught by Jesus and his disciples. Their version of Christianity seems to be about demonizing outsiders and viewing the accumulation of wealth as a sign of God’s favor.
We are currently into the fall election season where there are often extreme differences among the candidates. I will be supporting candidates of good character, who believe in compassion, fairness, and honesty. It is more important than ever to carefully review the qualifications of the candidates, especially whether their positions will help bring people together and improve the quality of life of all people and the planet, not just aid their political allies and their own pocketbooks. When you’ve done what you can to learn about the candidates and ballot issues, please VOTE. The future of the country is at stake.
If you need guidance regarding how to vote and you live in Washington, I suggest reviewing the information provided by FUSE Washington, which publishes an annual Progressive Voters Guide. Whether you agree with their endorsements or not, the information they provide will help you better understand the candidates and issues. There are similar voter guides available in other states as well.