THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD CHARACTER

FIRST there was shock, was it a gimmick or was it an overreaction and display of anger?

Either way, the unacceptable behaviour of Will Smith at the recent Oscars event sent a loud message across the globe that violence in any form is not tolerated. First his slap of Chris Rock’s face after an attempt at humour that in hindsight was distasteful – again a lesson that sometimes humour can hurt – and that we should be mindful of the words we choose.

However, to continue berating the presenter with obscene commentary was nothing more than immature and poor form.

So, what are the lessons for all of us in this memorable event, as our focus is drawn to the attributes of good character.

The character of an individual is perhaps also what encourages us to choose one leader over another in the political arena. Inherent within us is the attraction to integrity and humility.

Leaders of good character are careful and prudent, and humble in their awareness of their own limitations. They seek out knowledge and others want to learn from them.

As we watch the campaigning by our politicians, it begs the question what are we really voting on – is it the policymaking (the party) or is it the character of an individual who leads our nation?

Today, the world we witness reflects its leadership, or rather, the failure of its leadership.

Hatred, war, terrorism, genocide, greed, poverty, disease, hunger, the poisoning of our planet, all these afflictions, all these causes of human suffering, are merely a mirror reflecting the choices made by those that wield power.

In the same way that we choose our friends – we most likely are swayed to cast our votes based on the character and qualities of each candidate, rather than our party affiliation.

I recall back in 2018 when US Senator John Mccain passed away, there was a beautifully penned tribute to a man, while a political figure, illustrating that it was his character attributes that shone above all else to leave a legacy of a truly noble human being. Reflections of an inner dimension highlighting qualities that transcend traditionally recognised skills of great leaders.

The tribute also gave a poignant insight to one of his rare character flaws and how he dealt with it; the ability to admit a mistake and to take steps to correct it.

Equally, there are many moments in our own lives, where we are pressured to make decisions only later to realise that in the haste of making the decision – it has cost us our sense of judgment and possibly led to an error with ongoing consequences. I am sure the Will Smith outburst will long be remembered as a moment that perhaps it is better to forego self-interest for the common good.

As we ponder our decisionmaking for the upcoming election, let us consider the vital qualities we wish to see in the people, the parties and the flow-on effect to a country’s citizens. Afterall, we reflect our government, as we elect our preferred leader. It tells us what we see as important in life – and the future we view as vital for our children. For me, this means a future that is built on strong foundational character with the pillar of integrity, truth, justice, and goodness.