Recent Character Commentaries

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The Most Important Question Before Senators
As I write this commentary, I’m watching Chief Justice John Roberts ask all 100 Senators to stand and take a special oath for the Impeachment Trial of President Trump. “Do you solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald John Trump, president of the United States, now pending, you will do impartial justice according...
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January 17, 2020
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A Little Compassion; a Lot of Joy
Note: Will return on Monday with an analysis of the U.S./Iran crisis. Eleven-year old Ruby Chitsey was not like most sixth graders who were into sports and pageantry. “If you don’t do those things in rural Arkansas,” Ruby’s mother, Amanda Chitsey said, “you are really left out.” However, Ruby developed another interest. Amanda works as a nurse in Harrison, Arkansas....
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January 8, 2020
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John Lewis – Act of Grace
With news that Congressman John Lewis — the last of the Civil Rights protestors who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King — was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, I was reminded of a commentary I posted ten years ago about an extraordinary act of forgiveness. The last time Elwin Wilson saw Congressman John Lewis was at the Rock Hill,...
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January 3, 2020
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Character
Typically, when a college player is recognized for football’s prestigious Heisman trophy, they typically thank parents, coaches, teammates and friends. Louisiana State University quarterback Joe Burrow did something more. “Coming from southeast Ohio,” Burrow said in his acceptance speech, “it’s a very impoverished area and the poverty rate is almost two times the national average. “There’s so many people there...
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December 20, 2019
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Moral Courage
In my 2005 book, What Do You Stand for? – Stories About Principles That Matter, I began tobacco insider Jeffrey Wigand’s story with these words: What do you do when you discover something wrong? What do you do with what you know? Do you remain silent or come forward? Do you remain loyal to the company or expose the truth?...
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December 18, 2019
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Another World Changer
Note to Readers: Will return shortly. Had a long day working on a long-term project. (It’ll be worth it when I’m finished. I promise.) Every year since 2007, cable news network, CNN, receives nominations for its “CNN Heroes” award. Ten nominees are chosen, each demonstrating that they have made “extraordinary contributions to humanitarian aid and [made] a difference in their...
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December 9, 2019
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Two Positive Ethics Stories
While attending a conference last week, I found myself in an elevator with two other attendees. While my name tag appeared to suggest I was speaking at the conference, I explained that I do write and speak on ethics. One attendee smiled and asked, “Does ethics exist anymore?” While our nation’s capital endures numerous ethical lapses, it’s important to recognize...
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December 4, 2019
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The Power of Giving
Wildfires have taken a huge toll on California. However, the small town of Paradise has faced the unimaginable. That’s when Woody came to visit. The Camp Fire, in Northern California, was the most destructive wildfire in California history killing 86 people and, at one point, leaving nearly 500 people unaccounted for. The fire in Paradise and neighboring communities in Butte...
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December 2, 2019
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What Do We Stand For?
“These are the times that try men’s souls.” – Thomas Paine, English-born, American philosopher and activist. Taken from Paine’s essay, The Crisis, those words were meant to inspire American revolutionaries as they faced an extraordinary moment of character. Considering our current crisis, what Paine writes next is worth reflection. “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will,  » Read more about:...
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November 20, 2019
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Should the House Impeach Trump?
In January 1972, John Dean, White House Counsel to President Richard Nixon, met with Attorney General John Mitchell and others to hear a plan proposed by G. Gordon Liddy for intelligence-gathering for Nixon’s re-election campaign. After the plan met with resistance, Liddy scaled it back and Mitchell approved a scheme that called for a break-in of Democratic Headquarters in the...
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November 15, 2019

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