Recent Character Commentaries

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Three Stories That Show Who We Really Are
While news out of Washington continues to consume much of the news cycle, there are stories that remind us that compassion, perseverance, and the pursuit of excellence are reminders of what’s really important. The Good Samaritan – “I was getting a car at this particular dealership,” Dan Laguardia said. “I was going to trade in my car and get the...
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April 1, 2019
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Courage, Grace and Humor
In a selfless and sobering video message, long-time Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek announced to his fans that he has been diagnosed with stage-4 pancreatic cancer. But it was the way Trebek told this highly personal story that matters. “Hi everyone, I have some news to share with all of you and it’s in keeping with my longtime policy of being...
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March 11, 2019
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It’s Presidents’ Day!
And what better way for President Trump to celebrate a national emergency than unwinding for a three-day weekend at Mar-a-Lago playing golf! How does President Trump rank among his predecessors? Okay, we all know he wouldn’t make the top ten… twenty… or even thirty, but where does he align? Wikipedia compiled several lists from historians to public opinion polls. “The...
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February 18, 2019
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This is How You Make America Great
With the potential for yet another government shutdown, Washington Republicans and Democrats talking past each other, what we need most are stories that remind us who we are and what we really stand for. Iraq and Afghanistan vet Anthony Maggert was driving to an appointment at Walter Reed Medical Center last Wednesday when he spotted someone on the side of...
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February 5, 2019
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A Tale of Two Kids
This is a story of two kids: one who does the right thing and another who, well… you decide. When a sixth-grade student at Houghton Academy near Buffalo, New York noticed that the bus driver had accidentally hit a parked car, then left the scene, this student jumped into action, leaving a note on the car of Canisius College student...
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January 30, 2019
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Found! Profiles in Character
But not where you think! As reported by CBS Evening News Anchor Jeff Glor. John Siciliano, a federal corrections officer in New Jersey, hasn’t received a paycheck since December 29, 2018 “and is about to miss a mortgage payment. The bank told him and his wife if they miss a second one, it will start foreclosure proceedings.” As reported in...
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January 11, 2019
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Wanted: Profiles in Character and Courage
“To be courageous… requires no exceptional qualifications, no magic formula… whatever arena of life one may meet the challenge of courage, whatever may be the sacrifices he faces, if he follows his conscience – the loss of his friends, his fortune, his contentment, even the esteem of his fellow men – each man must decide for himself the course he...
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January 9, 2019
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Another Word About Dorothy Day
Colman McCarthy is always a supportive friend but he’s much more. The former Washington Post columnist retired to start The Center for Teaching Peace, a radical little group that has the audacity to believe that “unless we teach our children peace, someone else will teach them violence.” Among his advisory board: former Senators Ron Wyden and Mark Hatfield, Arun Gandhi...
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January 7, 2019
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Homeless but Not Helpless
In a time of domestic chaos and conflict, CBS On the Road correspondent Steve Hartman updates his yearly story about Secret Santa… with twist, (Dec. 14). “A lot of people ignore the homeless, but folks rushing past Moses Elder might regret their haste. This week, all people had to do was pay him some attention and he would pay them...
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December 21, 2018
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$2 Million, $100 at a Time
Repeated every year by CBS News’ reporter Steve Hartman, this is one story of character and compassion I never get tired of. One very wealthy and very grateful gentleman travels the country and hands out $100 to individuals in need. CBS News cameras capture the reaction on the recipients year after year. However, Hartman explains how it all began. “The...
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December 19, 2018