CSpan discusses Safire's Character Is Destiny (NYT)

[mandyky]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/12/opinion/12safi.html?oref=login&n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fColumnists%2fWilliam%20Safire

WASHINGTON — What's the secret to long-run success?

For a person, it's useful to have the smarts, look great, be lucky and exude charisma. All that is not enough.

For a political party, it helps to have good organization, articulate candidates and pollsters to discern a popular set of issues. Not enough.

For a nation, success can seem assured by natural resources, free enterprise, a culture of compassion and a free press. It can still go under.

For a person, a party and a nation, the element essential to success is character, a word that grew out of the Greek for "to mark, to engrave."

We can see that mark on individuals under stress: Lincoln, taking on the bloody burden of conflict to uphold majority rule. Or engraved in the unknown brain scientists of today, who break beyond the necessary treatment of mental suffering to the artificial enhancement of the human mind - and debate in their own minds if and when it is ethical to "play God."

Such men and women shape their character in life's personal decisions, weighing the warmth of loyalty against the cool of independence. They choose careers to gain the power to do good, or to build and support family, or to fulfill artistic talents - but forge character in sacrifices made in choosing one path over another.

We also see the mark of character, or lack of it, in political parties. The Republican Party today is characterized by a mission to defeat terror while exporting freedom abroad, and a policy to restrain taxes while increasing social spending at home.

More at the link above


My take is that on 9-11 our character turned to fear and revenge, partially due to this misadministrations politicizing the attack, and constantly harping on the fear factor. We have become ugly, arrogant Americans (at least half of our country). We are headed towards Fascism with each Patriot act type legislation.

[bryant69]

1. That's the thing

Conservatives love to talk about character or religious life (which to them is one and the same) and then place themselves on one part of the line and liberals on the other part of the line.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[rodeodance]

2. i am glad he is retiring--find him a bog!!

[ananda]

3. Say wha..??

"The Republican Party today is characterized by a mission to defeat terror while exporting freedom abroad, and a policy to restrain taxes while increasing social spending at home."

Um.. What!?!

Does he live in an alternate universe or looking-glass world?

ananda

[adigal]

4. I already wrote a Letter to the Editor this morning

I cannot pull it up, but I said that I chracterized the administration that lied to us about WMDs, took away the right to a hearing for prisoners and lived in a fantasy world as lacking character, being cruel and delusional.

We need to speak up about mischaracterizations of us, no???