The Esoteric Reality of Character:
One of my favorite mantras is short: "Character is Destiny". The trouble arises because 'character' is not a clearly defined term. Nevertheless, this doesn't mean we can't narrow it down a bit. So I gave some limited thought to the characteristics which characterize good character. I suppose most of us believe we have 'good character'. Maybe we just really mean 'good to a point'. Certainly we are 'gooder' than others probably discern. Much 'gooder'. And to some degree the 'goodest' in our midst are persons we have never met. They are easier to idolize in some fashion. I have listed below some aspects of good character which come to my mind, such as it is, and then listed examples of that particular trait. It will come as no surprise that I often thought of Lincoln in so many of the categories. But maybe that is why there are more books written about Lincoln than any other person in history and he remains the most beloved American across the world---even though he has been dead over 150 years.
Wisdom: Abraham Lincoln, Victoria Woodhull
Social Skills: Bill Clinton
Adherence to Ethical Principles: Terrell Owens, Abraham Lincoln, Pete Singer, John Shelby Spong.
Sense of Humor---Abraham Lincoln, Bullet Bob
Leadership---Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Mendella, FDR, Churchill
Compassion (Universal across the board)--- Abraham Lincoln
Honesty---Terrell Owens, Abraham Lincoln, Barry Goldwater, Harry Truman.
Charitableness---Andrew Carnegie, Warren Buffet, a small army of the poor who still manage to assist the needy, raise abandoned kids, befriend the friendless. Most of us 'have's' would never even consider that kind of sacrifice.
Courage---Abraham Lincoln (knew the price he was going to pay), Teddy Roosevelt (even though misplaced at times), Churchill, Terrell Owens (not over great issues but matters of personal fairness).
Ability to Forgive: Abraham Lincoln, Bill Clinton, Terrell Owens (will help you up after he has run you over if you were were unfair and disrespected him, not referring to on the field play here).
Ability to Admit When Wrong: Terrell Owens, Barry Goldwater. Am amazed how hard it is to think of many in this category. I know for myself, I was wrong once----one time I thought I was wrong and I was wrong---I wasn't wrong.
Willingness to Change: Barry Goldwater, John Shelby Spong, numerous Supreme Court Justices---and always to the left.
Others can add to or differ with the above list. Character is an interpretive sort of exercise. But the singular noteworthy notation here is what began this musing: "Character is Destiny".
