Character Counts

In my world, people's actions reflect their values.  That doesn't mean that people are infallible or undeserving of second chances or unworthy of forgiveness.  For me, it simply means that the overall way people conduct themselves day to day is a reflection of what they value.  Their behavior shows their true character.

I use this belief in my political choices as well.  For me, character has always been more important than if a candidate had a "R" or "D" behind their name on the ballot.  Whether this is common for other voters, I have no idea.  I just know that I try very hard to live my life by the golden rule and want to see this trait in the leaders of my community and my country as well.  This belief that a person's character matters is not something I'm willing to compromise on.  

There is a quote that I see attributed to Abraham Lincoln: "Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."  The other quote I like but I am not sure who it's attributable to is: "Our character is defined by what we do when we think no one is looking."  

Good character and actions from our leaders not only serve as examples to citizens but they also matter in how the rest of the world views us and reacts to our leadership around the globe.  I want elected officials whose character mirrors my own values, who are serious, smart and know how to motivate people to get results.  When you're considering who to vote for this year in the primaries or in the congressional mid-term elections, I encourage you to consider the character of the candidate more than their political party.  Let's all demand better of our leaders.