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Eulogy on the Demise of Character

The Generation of Character Source: Family Archives, circa 1944

The Generation of Character
Source: Family Archives, circa 1944

There was a time when the social, economic, and political currency was character. What I mean by a person of character is one who exhibits honesty, integrity, courage, and ethical behavior. How many people do you know who consistently display these attributes? Sadly, it seems they are rather scarce these days.

I knew such a person. My father who recently passed away was such a man. He was a member of the so-called ”Greatest Generation.” They were the people who grew up during the Great Depression and went on to fight in World War II. One of the hallmarks of the majority of that generation was steadfast honesty in business dealings as well as interpersonal interactions. I prefer to call them the Generation of Character.

My father was the most honest person I have ever known. He had his own business and had a reputation for honesty and integrity. He charged only what a job actually cost in terms of material and labor. He took pride in his work and used only materials of the highest quality. His profit margin was small, and his word was his bond. Moreover, he did his best to hold others to a similar standard when they provided business services or products to him.

He didn’t make a lot of money, and never had or asked for a lot. Yet, he was quite content knowing that he did his best to always do the right thing in every situation. The high road came naturally to him, so there was never a dilemma concerning which path to follow. He wasn’t perfect, but he got the important stuff right.

As far as I can tell, character was the mind-set of many members of the Greatest Generation—soon to be extinct. The depression and the war taught many of them humility and that God can take away all that we have at any time. It taught them to treasure family and friends, because they are with us for an indeterminant, and sometimes painfully short period of time.

For my own part, I lament, not only the loss of my father, but also the loss of character in so many members of contemporary society. What descriptor will historians use to characterize the present generations? What legacy of lifestyle will they (we) leave for future generations? Can character ever again dominate the human psyche and way of life of the majority?

The Night is Too Long

_DSC0697 Super Moon 5x5

Super Moon

Copyright 2013 by Blair Atherton

What goes through the mind of someone who is dying slowly over weeks, months, or years of a disease like cancer? We try to imagine what they think about, but we can’t really. We try to find things to talk about to take their mind off of the pain, sorrow, and anxiety, but we can’t be sure they are listening.

What goes through a person’s mind when they know they will not get better, only weaker. What goes through someone’s mind when they realize that their independence is gone and they can never go home again? What goes through a person’s mind when they know they must leave their loved ones behind not knowing if they will ever see them again?

We do our best to make them comfortable, bring them foods they like, and celebrate their lives through old family photos. They may cry in response to old familiar songs that elicit a host of fond memories of the past. We try to tell them that they should be happy and thankful for these things remembered. Still they grieve for days gone by that cannot be relived. They lament the empty days ahead in a life fading away slowly and methodically.

We see their jaw and lips quiver as they reach for a bite of food. Their hands shake as they reach for their glass. We struggle to conceal our sorrow in seeing someone who was so strong and steady, now so tentative and frail. We try to be strong but sometimes after we’ve gone home, the night is too long and we break down. But that doesn’t matter because the night is always too long for them.

We want very much to somehow ease their transition, but we don’t know how. So we go back to be with them the next day and the next in the hope that our presence will somehow make them feel better and less anxious. All we can really do is let them know how much we love them.

What is going through their minds? We try to imagine, but we can’t. The night is too long.

Compassion and 911

 

Photo Source: looktvonline.com

Photo Source: looktvonline.com

Today is the twelfth anniversary of the 911 attack on the US. There are many reasons why people want to remember that day. One reason I want to remember this event is because it demonstrated the worst and best of humanity in stark contrast. Mass murder motivated by hatred, envy, the quest for power and notoriety, and misguided religious zeal versus an unselfish love and compassion for our fellow human beings.

On that day, there was the most massive outpouring of compassion on a worldwide basis in human history. It is truly remarkable that the overwhelming outcome of the attack was not hatred or the desire for revenge, but rather an outpouring of love and compassion.

It was a true testament to the triumph of good over evil, and it demonstrated the collective compassion of people everywhere. So you see, compassion is at the core of our divine nature as human beings. It crosses all boundaries of race, religious belief (or lack thereof), or country of origin.

On that day we were all one people, grieving the massive loss of life, and feeling deep compassion for all of those who lost loved ones. We need to find a way without disasters to allow it to become what defines us as human beings in our everyday life. We need to love without fear, reservation, or qualification.

I believe the expression of love and compassion is the secret to finding true happiness and fulfillment in life. But not just for your circle of friends and family, for people around the world, just as people everywhere did on September 11, 2001.