Character: The Heart of the Matter

The American gang and school violence crisis is so pervasive that legislation has been introduced in the United States Senate to give state and local governments more than $1 billion to fight gangs and school violence. A second bill would create $50 million to provide federal grants to schools for police officers, security systems and gang prevention programs.

Spending over $1 billion dollars without focusing on the critical need for character education is contributing to the deterioration of American values through a misdiagnosis. An approach to the gang and violence culture must be comprehensive but transformation of our culture is impossible without the molding of character in the hearts of American youth by the persuasive example of leadership throughout society.

• Leaders in American government can only be effective when character is the heart of the matter.
• Parents in American families can only influence when character is the heart of the matter.
• Executives in American corporations can only persuade when character is the heart of the matter.
• American military commanders can only be respected when character is the heart of the matter.
• American law enforcement can only be admired when character is the heart of the matter.
• American educators can only inspire when character is the heart of the matter.

We can become examples for our youth only when character is the heart of the matter in our government, military, corporations, law enforcement agencies, families and schools.