The Soul of the Profession: The Police at America’s Head-On Collision of Violence and Character

Character. Crisis. Consequence.

As America faces a continuing collision between a culture of violence and a crisis of character, the burden placed upon the police officer is not only physical and emotional—but profoundly moral. This is the unseen weight carried by those sworn to protect—and the responsibility of leadership to preserve the soul of the profession.

A Convergence of Violence and Character

More than two decades ago, I began writing and speaking about a growing national crisis—what I would later define as “America’s Head-On Collision”—a convergence of two powerful and destructive forces: a culture of violence and a crisis of character.

At the time, it was a warning. Today is reality.

That collision is no longer approaching. It is here.

From school shootings to senseless acts of brutality, from the erosion of trust in institutions to a steady stream of incidents that challenge confidence in leadership across every segment of society, the evidence is undeniable. These are not isolated events, but indicators of a deeper condition—a breakdown in both behavior and values.

The impact is not theoretical; it is lived daily in communities across this nation. And standing at the very point of that collision is the American police officer.

America’s Head-On Collision

This crisis can be understood as two forces on a catastrophic course—one fueled by violence, the other by a collapse of character. When they collide, the consequences extend far beyond immediate loss. The aftermath is seen in fractured families, destabilized communities, and a void too often filled with despair, addiction, and continuing cycles of harm.

It is within this environment that the police officer is called to serve—not as an observer, but as a participant, a responder, and ultimately, a protector. Officers are not shielded from this collision; they stand directly within it.

The Officer at the Point of Impact

The American police officer does not operate in a vacuum. He or she serves at the intersection of a culture of violence that threatens public safety, a crisis of character that erodes moral clarity, and a pattern of institutional failures that, over time, has weakened public trust. These forces are not isolated; they are ongoing conditions that shape the realities of modern policing.

Highly publicized events across the country continue to raise legitimate concerns regarding conduct, accountability, and leadership. These issues must be acknowledged with honesty and addressed with seriousness. At the same time, they must be understood in their broader context. Each incident carries consequences that extend beyond those directly involved, influencing public perception and placing an added burden on officers who serve with integrity.

That burden is real and cumulative, building over time in ways that are often unseen but deeply felt.

The police officer does not create the chaos—but is called to stand in the middle of it.

A Principle Proven Over Time

For more than two decades, I have written and spoken about the dangers of a society drifting toward corruption, moral compromise, and ethical ambiguity. The principle has remained consistent: when character declines, consequences follow.

What has changed is not the principle, but the intensity and immediacy of its impact. Nowhere are those consequences more evident than within the profession of policing.

The Moral Burden of the Profession

Day after day, officers are required to confront violence, human suffering, and the consequences of societal breakdown—often within the span of a single shift. They must navigate anger, distrust, and, at times, open hostility, while being expected to respond with restraint, professionalism, and unwavering integrity.

This burden extends beyond traditional definitions of stress or trauma. It reflects a deeper internal strain—what is increasingly understood as moral injury: a conflict that arises when individuals are repeatedly exposed to circumstances that challenge their most fundamental understanding of right and wrong.

Maintaining ethical clarity in such an environment requires not only discipline, but resilience at a deeply personal level. Over time, this strain can affect not only performance, but perspective, identity, and sense of purpose.

In that sense, the impact is not only professional—it is profoundly human.

It is, ultimately, a matter of the soul of the profession.

A Message to Those Who Serve

In speaking recently to officers, I offered a message that extends beyond any single department or moment in time. Those who serve in this profession will inevitably encounter the realities described here. They will witness failure, controversy, and the effects of a broader societal struggle.

But they must not allow that external environment to define their internal state.

Officers must guard their peace of mind and remain grounded in the purpose that brought them to this profession. Their role is not defined by headlines or by the actions of others, but by their own commitment to serve with integrity and resolve.

The communities they serve—including the most vulnerable—depend upon their presence not only for protection, but for stability and reassurance. In fulfilling that role, officers stand for those who are crestfallen, the brokenhearted, and in need of protection.

This is not simply an occupation. It is a calling grounded in responsibility, service, and moral purpose.

Leadership and Responsibility

Leadership within the profession must recognize this reality with clarity and urgency. If officers are expected to uphold the highest standards under the most challenging conditions, then leadership must ensure they are supported with direction, understanding, and consistency.

Leadership has never been simply a position of authority—it is a responsibility that demands the highest expression of character. Without that foundation, neither institutions nor those who serve within them can sustain the trust upon which they depend.

Accountability remains essential, and misconduct must be addressed wherever it occurs. At the same time, the actions of a few must not be allowed to define the many who serve honorably.

Leadership carries the responsibility not only to enforce standards, but to preserve the morale, clarity, and ethical foundation of the profession itself. This includes acknowledging the cumulative burden placed on officers and reinforcing the values that sustain them.

Failure to do so risks not only individual well-being, but the integrity of the institution as a whole.

The Path Forward

The question is no longer whether this national collision exists, but whether we are prepared to confront its impact on those who stand in the middle of it.

The challenges are significant, but the solution remains consistent. It lies in the restoration of character—an ethical renewal grounded in integrity, accountability, and leadership that places service above self.

If America is to navigate this head-on collision, the answer will not be found in policy alone. It will be found in character.

Within policing, it will depend on whether we are willing to recognize, protect, and strengthen the soul of the profession—those who stand each day at the point of impact, holding the line between order and chaos, often at great personal cost to themselves and their families.

As originally published by Law Officer, March 26, 2026. 

About the Author

Vincent J. Bove is a nationally recognized authority on ethical leadership, violence prevention, and law enforcement resiliency. A sought-after speaker and prolific author, his work has influenced agencies and institutions across the United States for over 25 years.

Bove has authored more than 350 published articles and four books addressing critical issues in public safety, leadership, and moral courage. His book Reawakening America© was named a finalist for ASIS International’s Book of the Year, while Listen to Their Cries© was sponsored for all attendees at the National Conference on Ethics in America at West Point.

He was appointed the first-ever Honorary Law Enforcement Motivational Speaker by the NYPD, conducting initiatives in all boroughs of New York City for the department. He is also a trusted voice at FBI venues, West Point, and numerous U.S. military facilities. A longtime contributor to the National Association of Chiefs of Police, he has authored 18 cover stories and helped shape national law enforcement dialogue through feature articles and reports.

“Vincent J. Bove is considered one of the foremost national experts on school and workplace violence prevention, specializing in facility protection, evacuations, terrorism prevention and leadership training.” – U.S. Senate

Photo: NYPD officer speaking to Vincent J. Bove, NYPD TD4, May 7, 2025. (RALLC)

Resources

The Police Community Partnership (PCP™) Philosophy

A foundational framework emphasizing trust, collaboration, and ethical leadership as the cornerstone of effective policing in modern communities.

The Vigilant Protector™: Ethical Leadership In The NYPD

Explores the role of ethical leadership in shaping resilient officers who lead with integrity, discipline, and a commitment to service.

The Vigilant Protector™: The Fire of Character in the Hearts of NYPD’s Newest Bronx Officers

Highlights the enduring importance of character, purpose, and calling in the next generation of police officers entering the profession.

The Complete Law Officer Chronicles by Vincent J. Bove

A comprehensive collection of leadership-focused articles addressing ethics, resilience, and the evolving challenges facing American policing.

Ethical Policing Leadership Certification: Critical for American Law Enforcement

This article is reposted due to its significance in light of the Memphis Police Department incident. 

Events including demonstrations and protests are continually unfolding. As of today, seven Memphis Police Department officers have been relived of duty following the videoed beating death of Tyre Nichols. Additionally, three Memphis Fire Department personnel who responded to the beating have been terminated.  

The article was originally titled Reawakening American Policing: Officer Safety, Ethical Certifications, Community Trust.  It was published as the cover story for The Chief of Police, by the National Association of Chiefs of Police, Summer 2020 edition, and distributed hard copy to police chiefs and law enforcement executives nationwide.

The following article is more relevant now then ever.

Reawakening American Policing: Officer Safety, Ethical Certifications, Community Trust. 

American policing is experiencing a crisis, and the world is watching. 

This crisis has been ignited by a perfect storm from multiple fronts. 

First, there is the continuous violence inflicted upon police due to our culture of violence. 

Compounding this danger, is the stress, anxieties, and casualties caused by the coronavirus. 

Further exacerbating these issues are mental health concerns, as well as ethical certification needs, and the issue of police-community trust, all of which will be addressed in this article. 

Therefore, this article will address three critical topics - officer safety, ethical certifications, and community trust. 

Each of these issues are essential and inseparable for the transformation, or reawakening, of American policing.

As these topics are crystalized, it is imperative to understand that this transformation is the unconditional responsibility of both law enforcement and the community.

Police and Community Transformation

There is a mission critical need for both policing and communities to undergo a transformation. Both must all rise to the occasion and character is critical for change. 

Character in our police agencies must be cultivated through world class ethical policing certifications. It must be cultivated in our communities, especially in our schools and workplaces. 

There are broken bridges of trust between communities and police departments throughout the nation. 

Whenever there is an incident, it is widely and immediately publicized due to instantaneous social media, and violence often erupts. 

Indeed, as I write this article, the headline breaking news is “100 Arrested, 13 Officers Injured in Chicago After Police Shoot Man.” 

America demands a reawakening. 

We will remedy this crisis with moral courage, unwavering commitment to transforming the nation one community at a time, and building iron clad bridges of trust with the police and community. 

In Memoriam: Officer Valentin Martinez 

Before we continue, it is our solemn duty to pause to honor our fallen officers. 

One officer representing all in harm’s way during the challenges of the coronavirus is worthy of remembrance. 

Los Angeles Police Officer Valentin Martinez passed away on July 24, 2020. Officer Martinez, 45 years old, who served at LAPD Mission Station, died after courageously battling a long fight with the virus. 

Officer Martinez leaves behind his wife, 20 weeks pregnant with twins at the time of his death, his mother, siblings, and his LAPD family. 

He tested positive for the virus at the end of May, 2020, one of 423 LAPD officers who had tested positive at that time. 

In Memoriam: Officer Sheena Yarbrough-Powell

Another officer representing the dangers of the profession also deserves our heartfelt pause. 

Officer Sheena Yarbrough-Powell of the Beaumont Police Department in Texas was killed when a wrong-way drunk driver hit the squad car she and another officer were in. 

The other officer sustained major injuries, but was released from the hospital after treatment. The surviving officer has a long road to recovery ahead. 

Officer Sheena Yarbrough-Powell was only 23 years old, and was married for just ten months. 

Police Suicides: Awareness, Prevention, Action 

Although I have addressed the tragedies of fallen officers extensively in published articles for The Chief of Police magazine and my newest book, Reawakening America, it is important to take time to focus specifically on mental health issues. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “each year more than 41,000 individuals die by suicide, leaving behind thousands of friends and family members to navigate the tragedy of their loss." 

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among adults in the U.S. and the 2nd leading cause of death among young people aged 10-24; these rates are rising. “Suicidal thoughts or behaviors are both damaging and dangerous and are therefore considered a psychiatric emergency. Someone experiencing these thoughts should seek immediate assistance from a health or mental health care provider. Having suicidal thoughts does not mean someone is weak or flawed.” 

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) cites in their document titled Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide, that each year more law enforcement officers die by suicide than are killed in the line of duty. 

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), the component of the U.S. Department of Justice dedicated to advancing community policing, encourages everyone to take action to prevent law enforcement suicides. 

In one Community Policing Dispatch newsletter, COPS states the following: 

“Care for officer's mental and emotional health should be on par with their safety and physical health. In order for prevention efforts to be successful, agencies must also address cultural and environmental barriers to prevention at all levels, e.g., the still-pervasive stigma that discourages at-risk officers from seeking help for fear of negative peer reactions or career ramifications; lack of comprehensive suicide prevention policies; and insufficient training for officers or health care providers. 

“There are many people who have a role to play in preventing suicide among law enforcement officers. 

The attitudes and behaviors of chiefs, supervisors, peers, health care providers, family, friends, faith leaders, and others can all influence officers' health.” 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 

Aside from resources for assistance within law enforcement, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) at 1 800-273-8255, provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources, best practices, and building awareness. 

As detailed on the NSPL website, these are some warning signs that may help to determine if one is at risk for suicide. 

These warning signs, “especially if the behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change” demand that someone seek help: 

•Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves 

•Looking for a way to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun 

•Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live 

•Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain 

•Talking about being a burden to others 

•Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs 

•Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly 

•Sleeping too little or too much 

•Withdrawing or isolating themselves 

•Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge 

•Extreme mood swings 

Each life is sacred and deserving of respect, support, and encouragement. 

The maxim “if you see something say something” is applicable not only to crime prevention, but to protecting the lives of all experiencing emotional trauma. 

We must continually have eyes wide open to warning signs of suicide, and the moral courage to respond to prevent tragedies. 

Ethical Policing Leadership: World Class Certification Program 

Along with protecting those who protect us, we must also ensure that they have world class training and certifications. 

It has been my privilege to develop the program “21st Century Policing: America’s Ethical Protectors” for law enforcement. 

Ethical training, development, and certification is critical to the entire law enforcement profession, and so I am taking the liberty to share some details. 

By doing so, it is my fervent hope that law enforcement agencies nationwide are inspired to make on-going ethical policing initiatives - that highlight certification programs - fundamental to their mission. 

My program specifies that premier law enforcement agencies recognize that a respectable program on ethical policing stands as the hallmark for professionalism.   The reasons include the following: 

•Ethical policing certification is a proven educational model that strengthens operational efficiency, improves morale, and increases respectability. 

•Ethics empowers the rank-and-file of an agency with leadership skills, vigilance enhancement, and collaborative expertise. 

•Ethical Policing addresses state-of-the-art ethical principles based upon recognized issues vital to the profession. This is the most effective way of developing, attaining, and sustaining the vision, mission, and core values of the agency. 

•Ethical Policing strengthens agency accountability, and improves community trust through principles enhancing expectations, performance, and responsibility. 

•Ethical certification assists in limiting the agency’s liability as it demonstrates that ethical training has been conducted by an independent respected authority. 

This program, already presented for an initiative of the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association (BCPCA), Bergen County Prosecutors Office (BCPC), and Bergen County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), has an agenda that includes the following: 

 •Ethical policing principles 

 •Principles of American Policing 

 •Emotional Intelligence 

 •Cultivating a reputation of respect 

 •Building community trust 

 •Neighborhood Policing 

 •Sexual harassment 

 •Crime prevention 

 •Communication skills 

 •Mental health 

 •Conflict resolution 

 •Crisis management 

It has also been my honor to present versions of this ethical leadership program at numerous venues for the FBI, as well as for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Air Force, and the National Conference on Ethics in America at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. 

Parenthetically, there are also opportunities that should be made available by law enforcement for the community relative to ethical certifications and community trust.

These initiatives fall under Community Policing, or as the NYPD refers to it, with some philosophical variation, Neighborhood Policing.  

One such initiative is a Citizen Police Academy, one of which I myself completed over 20 years ago with the Teaneck, New Jersey Police Academy.

Initiatives such as this, allow citizens and police to build trust, while understanding and enhancing the criminal justice system, and form community parnerships.

Nine Principles of America Policing: Building Bridges of Trust 

Although Sir Robert Peel’s Nine Policing Principles are timeless, contemporary issues demand principles complementing tradition while respecting current realities. 

Therefore, I have developed these Nine Principles of American Policing to enhance dialogue, communication, and trust between police and communities.

The Nine Principles of American Policing are as follows: 

1. Being pro-police and pro-community is inseparable, indefatigable, and preeminent. Police must at all times remain fully committed to protecting and serving the public through character, ethics, and leadership that is total and whole-hearted. Police must be guided by a moral compass that honors the community, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. 

2. Respect must be the heart of the police and it must be unwavering for the profession, colleagues, and community. Respect can only be earned through integrity, accountability, and transparency. These qualities build trust, legitimacy, and collaboration. 

3. Police deserve that every level of government provide the resources necessary for proper police staffing, training, and community service. 

4. Initiatives enhancing police-community relations must continually be implemented and include citizen appreciation events, National Night Out, neighborhood block watches, and citizen police academies. Programs for youth, the future of the nation, are vital. These include school resource officers, youth police academies, character education, and mentoring initiatives. 

 

5. Police deserve the latest and most effective technology to protect themselves and the public.

 

6. Moral courage must be encouraged, as police must be empowered to make decisions that are legal, ethical, and moral. 

7. Patriotism is mission-critical. Honoring America, our flag, and our military personnel must be part and parcel of the police officer’s creed and take place at every event. 

8. Police interventions must always be proportional, constitutional, and uphold quality of life issues deserved by all communities. 

9. Police require a discerning recruitment process, education credentials, and ongoing training/certifications on issues including constitutional policing, diversity, civil rights, race-relations, violence prevention, community policing, crisis management, ethics, leadership, gangs, private security, and use of force. 

Final Reflections 

America’s law enforcement professionals are in critical roles of protecting and serving our communities. 

We must recognize, appreciate, and support them in their challenging work. 

We must also realize our shared responsibility and do everything in our power to forge iron-clad police-community partnerships. 

These partnerships must be built on an ethical code, essential not only to law enforcement professionals, but on every community member privileged to call America home. 

ABOUT the AUTHOR
Vincent J. Bove is a national speaker and author on issues critical to America with over 300 published works. His most recent books are “Reawakening America” and “Listen to Their Cries.”

Bove is recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award, former confidant of the New York Yankees, and served as spokesperson for a coalition of Virginia Tech tragedy victim’s families.

For 20 years, Vincent has been a Board Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Board Certified Crime Prevention Specialist, Certified Police Training Commission Instructor, Crime Prevention Practitioner, and USDOJ Certified Community Anti-Terrorism Instructor Trainer.

Bove is also a licensed State of New Jersey / Division of State Police SORA Instructor, owner of Reawakening America LLC, and co-founder of Global Security Resolutions LLC, an international investigative company.

Contact: vincent@vincentbove.com

Note Well:  This article was cover story for The Chief of Police, Summer 2020, Volume XXXVII, Number 2, the author's 15th cover story for the magazine.  

The magazine was distributed via hard copy to police chiefs and law enforcement executives nationwide.

Photos 

1. The Chief of Police cover story by Vincent J. Bove, Summer, 2020.

2. Atlanta PD initiative, Masks for the Homeless. (Courtesy Atlanta PD) 

3. LAPD funeral for Officer Valentin Martinez, died from coronavirus. (Courtesy LAPD) 

4.Police Officer Sheena Yarbrough-Powell (Courtesy Beaumont PD) 

5. Minneapolis Police (Courtesy Minneapolis PD) 

6. NYPD Officers. (Courtesy NYPD) 

7. Vandalized Portland PD vehicle.(Courtesy Portland PD) 

8. Teaneck Police Department Citizen's Police Academy certificate, Vincent John Bove, May 21, 1997

9. NYPD officer assisting elderly. (Courtesy NYPD) 

10. Vincent J. Bove photos depicting numerous presentations for, and awards from the FBI. 

McCarrick Report: A Cry to Heaven for Justice

The Vatican report revealing a defrocked cardinal, Theodore McCarrick, was released today.

Regrettably, this long awaited report is deficient, as it omits critical information.

This scandal continues to spread confusion, and breaks trust between the priesthood and the laity.  It also deteriorates trust necessary in society, as people feel continually betrayed, disillusioned, and suspicious. 

I personally met McCarrick during a face-to-face scheduled meeting while is was archbishop of Newark.  During that meeting, I discussed my comprehensive investigation on issues of grave significance, not only to the church, but to America.  In due time, details on this investigation will be revealed.

For now, I wish to spotlight one of my published works, also included in chapters of my two newest books, Listen To Their Cries and Reawakening America.  

The article addresses the priest abuse crisis, which is inseparable from our leadership crisis, and crisis of truth. I have also addressed these issues in my presentations nationwide for over 20 years.

Additional details, critical to the Roman Catholic faith, and to America, are forthcoming.

This is the article, Priest Sexual Abuse Crisis: A Cry for Justice, as published in The Sentinel, Mar. 21, 2016.  It is also a chapter in my newest book, Reawakening America.

Priest Sexual Abuse Crisis: A Cry for Justice

Faith-based organizations often compound America's crisis of character with headlines of reprehensible crimes, including priest sexual abuse and cover ups in the Catholic Church. 

As a practicing Roman Catholic, who earned two Master’s degrees in theology from a Vatican institution, and as an educator, who served for 10 years throughout the United States as a Salesian of Don Bosco, I am fully committed to preventing abuse and remedying this scandal.

These theological credentials are complemented by over 20 years of training initiatives that I have conducted for law enforcement, including the FBI - always stressing respect for the law, transparency, collaboration, and justice. 

Every act of child sexual abuse is immoral and criminal; and acts compounded by the secrecy, cover ups, indifference, and arrogance of bishops demands accountability.

Cover ups by bishops are acts of betrayal, scandal, and desecration that inflict additional wounds upon victims and society, breaking the bond of trust critical to community. 

It is imperative that all people of moral decency make their voices in a cry for justice against these immoral and criminal acts. 

Compassion for victims who are crying for healing, truth, and accountability is critical. 

Pope Francis: Concern, Compassion, Courage

The current pope is the perfect catalyst at the right time for the Catholic Church as he is capable of inspiring necessary transformation.

Pope Francis is an inspirational shepherd, demanding the same from his bishops and priests. The pope is admired by believers as well as non-believers - for his concern, compassion, and courage - virtues critical for a transformational renewal of the Catholic Church.

During his visit to the U.S. on Sept. 27, 2015, Pope Francis exemplified character, truthfully addressing the bishops on the priest sexual abuse scandal at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.

Pope Francis passionately stated:

“I am deeply pained by the stories, the sufferings and the pain of minors who were sexually abused by priests. I continue to be ashamed that persons charged with the tender care of those little ones abused them and caused them grave harm. I deeply regret this. God weeps. The crimes and sins of sexual abuse of minors may no longer be kept secret; I commit myself to ensuring that the Church makes every effort to protect minors and I promise that those responsible will be held to account. Survivors of abuse have become true heralds of hope and ministers of mercy; humbly we owe our gratitude to each of them and to their families for their great courage…”

Pennsylvania Priests/Bishops Scandal

According to a grand jury report made public on March 1, two Roman Catholic bishops helped cover up sexual abuse of hundreds of children by more than 50 priests and religious officials in Pennsylvania over the course of 40 years.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General, Kathleen Kane, who released the 147 page report, spoke more like a shepherd than the bishops entrusted with the protection of children.

Attorney General Kathleen Kane stated:

“The heinous crimes these children endured are absolutely unconscionable...These predators desecrated a sacred trust and preyed upon their victims in the very places where they should have felt most safe…Just as troubling is the cover-up perpetrated by clergy leaders that allowed this abuse to continue for decades .. They failed in our society's most important task of protecting our children .. At the very least we must continue to shine a light on this long period of abuse and despicable conduct.”

The report includes the following:

• Over many years hundreds of children have fallen victim to child predators wrapped in the authority of an honorable faith. As wolves disguised as the shepherds themselves-these men stole the innocence of children by sexually preying upon the most innocent and vulnerable members of our society and the Catholic faith.

• This is not an indictment of the Catholic religion or the Catholic Church. Many who testified and spoke out regarding the horror…are devout Catholics, as are members of this Grand Jury and Office of Attorney General investigative personnel.

• The Grand Jury finds the acts of the predator priest and their enabling Bishops to be criminal. However, they cannot be prosecuted at this time. The statute of limitations…has expired…abolish the statute of limitations for sexual offenses against minors. 

• Suspend the civil statute of limitations on child sexual abuse claims for a designated and finite period of years.

• Possible criminal conduct should be reported directly to law enforcement authorities.

Archdiocese of Boston: America’s Priest Abuse Epicenter 

Priest sexual abuse was detailed in the Office of the Attorney General (AG) of Massachusetts July 23, 2003 report titled, “The Sexual Abuse of Children in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston.”

An overview of this scandal, detailed in my latest book titled “Listen To Their Cries,” emphasizes findings of the Massachusetts (AG), which also correlate to the Pennsylvania (AG) report, and includes the following:

• Top Archdiocese officials knew the extent of the clergy sexual abuse problem for many years before it came known to the public.

• The Archdiocese response to reports of sexual abuse of children, including maintaining secrecy of reports, placed children at risk.

• The Archdiocese placed children at risk by transferring abusive priests to other parishes.

• The Archdiocese failed to adequately supervise priests known to have sexually abused children in the past.

Final Reflections 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to reprehensible criminal acts that “cry to heaven for justice.”

America's criminal justice system makes it clear that sexual abuse of children, and those involved with cover up, is criminal.

Only when we protect our children and hold individuals accountable, will America have authentic faith-based communities, and a moral reawakening of the nation. 

Note Well:

Linkedin: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing

Join Vincent’s Linkedin Group: The Sentinel: Reawakening the Nation

Facebook: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing

Twitter: vincentjbove 

Newest Books, both address the priest abuse crisis, as well as the crisis of leadership and truth throughout all segments of society.

Photo

1. Truth Above All Things, mosaic at entrance of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, New York, NY. (Vincent J. Bove)

2. An unidentified child, who was carried out from the crowd to meet Pope Francis, reaches out to touch the Pontiff's face during a parade on his way to celebrate Sunday Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, on Sept. 27, 2015. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)

Carnage of Innocents in America Demands Moral Courage

Shortly after the Apr. 20, 1999 Columbine High School massacre, I was privileged to address audiences throughout America on leadership, violence prevention, and crisis planning.

During these presentations, I shared reflections with law enforcement, educators, mental health professionals, private security, students, government officials, and community leaders. These reflections crystalized concerns that violence in America would intensify not only in schools, but in workplaces, communities, against police, in houses of worship, and by acts of terrorism.

America’s Head-On Collision

In my graphic slide presentations, I used a metaphor of a head-on catastrophic train-wreck in America. The head-on collision emphasized the effects of our simultaneous crisis of leadership and culture of violence.

The crisis of leadership was illuminated by documentation of unbridled public corruption on the FBI website. These shameful public corruption cases were compounded by my demonstration of nationwide media reports of corporate fraud, professional sports scandals, celebrity turpitude, and despicable crimes at the highest level of faith-based communities.

The culture of violence was emphasized through tragic incidents of domestic violence, hate-crimes, workplace violence, and terrorism, of violence against those who defend us, of violence by gangs, and of course school and campus violence.

In one slide, I shared a news story from Dec. 7, 1999 titled “Four hurt in gunfire at Oklahoma school: 13 year-old suspect subdued by teacher." The article, in the back pages of the paper, was used to dramatize that America’s horrific acts of violence were becoming commonplace and no longer making headline news.

Houses of Worship: Sanctuary Profaned

I also stressed to the audiences, and have now been doing so for nearly 20 years, that sites in America, previously understood to provide sanctuary, were not invulnerable. My presentations underscored that America would see intense, senseless, and unimaginable acts of violence in places thought to be sacrosanct, houses of worship.

Predictably, these acts of violence in houses of worship have occurred. They have involved the recent attack at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, TX where twenty-six were killed on Nov. 5, 2017. They have also included the following, which is tragically only a partial list:

• Burnette Chapel Church of Christ – Sept. 25, 2017, Antioch, Tenn., where a woman was killed walking to her car and congregants were indiscriminately shot in the sanctuary.
• Emanuel African Methodist Church – Jun. 17, 2015 in Charleston, SC where a white supremacist killed nine and injured another during their Bible study.
• Overland Park Jewish Community Center and Village Shalom Retirement Center – Apr. 13, 2014, Kansas, City, Kan. where a white supremacist killed three people.
• Saint Bernard Roman Catholic Churchh – Jan. 2, 2014, Eureka, Calif. where a Roman Catholic priest was found brutally murdered in the church rectory.
• First United Presbyterian Church – Dec. 3, 2012, Coudersport, Pa where a man walked into church in the middle of Sunday Advent services and fatally shot his ex-wife, Darlene Sitler, 53, while she sat in a pew. Darlene was the organist and choir director at the church.
• Muslim Center Education Mosque – Aug. 12, 2012, Morton Grove, Ill., where a man was arrested for shooting a high-velocity air rifle outside a mosque where hundreds of worshippers were celebrating Ramada.
• Sikh Temple of Wisconsin – Aug. 5, 2012, Oak Creek, Wis., where six people were killed. Five years later, the temple’s website cites that this was not only a Sikh tragedy but an American one.
• Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church – Jul. 27, 2008, Knoxville, Tenn., where two were killed and several others wounded by shotgun.
• Youth With a Mission – Dec. 9, 2007, Arvada, Colo. where a man and woman were killed and two men wounded at a school for missionaries.
• Living Church of God – Mar. 12, 2005, Brookfield, Wis. where a gunman opened fire at a worship service killing seven and wounding four.
• Wedgewood Baptist Church – Sept. 15, 1999, Fort Worth, Texas where a gunman invaded a youth prayer rally featuring a Christian rock group. The killer had 200 rounds of ammunition and a pipe bomb. Seven people were killed and seven others injured.

Violence Enters America’s Arteries

Since the aforementioned Dec. 7, 1999 news story reminded me of the Dec. 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, I used a clip during my presentations showing President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR). The clip was from his famous Infamy Speech to a Joint Session of Congress on Dec. 8, 1941.

FDR stated, “Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy – the United States was suddenly and deliberately attacked.”

This iconic clip was used to dramatize that if FDR were alive today, he would address a new infamy upon America, ignited by our crisis of leadership and culture of violence. I stressed that FDR would devote his energy to reawaken the nation to a renaissance of character. This character, in my opinion, is critical for vanquishing the violence that has entered into the very heart of America - in our schools, campuses, families, workplaces, and communities, against our police, and even in houses of worship.

America’s Violence Intensifies

Tragically, the Columbine massacre, which was the deadliest school attack in American history less than 20 years ago, was followed by additional grim statistics including Virginia Tech and Sandy Hook.

For a time, Columbine was also not only the most heart-breaking school violence tragedy, but one of America’s most deadly overall.

Unfortunately, the crisis as addressed in my article titled Mass Shootings: America’s Public Health Crisis, published in the Dec. 10, 2015 edition of the Epoch Times, not only continues but intensifies.

America is experiencing so many mass shootings, that Columbine has now faded from the list of the ten most deadly in modern U.S. history.

The current list, tragically subject to change at any time due to the intensifying violence in America, is as follows:

1. The Harvest Music Festival – Las Vegas, Nev., Oct. 1, 2017, 58 killed and over 500 injured.
2. Pulse Night Club – Orlando, Fla., Jun. 16, 2016, 49 killed, 50 injured.
3. Virginia Tech – Blacksburg, Va., Apr. 16, 2007, 32 killed and an estimated 20 injured.
4. Sandy Hook – Newtown, Conn., Dec. 14, 2012, 20 children ages 6 and 7 killed along with six adults.
5. First Baptist Church – Sutherland Springs, Texas, Nov. 5, 2017, 26 people killed including children in the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history.
6. Luby’s Cafeteria – Killeen, Texas, Nov. 5, 1991, 23 people killed.
7. McDonalds – San Ysidro, Calif., Jul. 18, 1984, 21 adults including children killed.
8. University of Texas – Austin, Texas, Aug. 1, 1966, 16 killed and at least 30 wounded.
9. Inland Regional Center – San Bernardino, Calif., Dec. 2, 2015, 14 people killed at a state-run facility for individuals with developmental disabilities.
10. U.S. Postal Service – Edmond, Calif., Aug. 20, 1986, 14 postal employees killed.

America Wake-Up: Stop the Carnage

As the Columbine tragedy fades from the list of America’s most deadly mass shootings, it has become solemnly verified that these tragedies not only continue, but have become more deadly.

Four of the five deadliest mass shootings have occurred in the last five years, and we continue to witness America’s flag lowered to half-staff.

America, the land of the free and home of the brave must not allow these mass shootings to define us. We must also refuse to allow apathy to rule our times. America must never accept an attempt to banish these tragedies to back page news.

It is time for America to wake-up, to be reawakened, and to stop the carnage of the innocents by igniting the only force that will change the tide, our moral courage.

Related Coverage:

Mass Shootings, Police Fatalities: America’s Culture of Trauma

Las Vegas Tragedy: Compassion, Empathy, Sympathy

America’s Houses of Worship Require Enhanced Security

America, Wake Up: Harden Your Soft Targets

Sanctuary Profaned: Protecting America’s Houses of Worship

Note Well:

Linkedin: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing

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Vincent is author of 250 articles, including his weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times; 35 countries, 21 languages, and growing. As a national speaker, he has addressed audiences nationwide on issues critical to America including ethical leadership, violence prevention, and crisis planning.

Photo: An American flag hags upside down from a home near the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs in Sutherland Springs, Texas on Nov. 6, 2017. On Nov. 5 a gunman, (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Trojan Horse in the Heart of America

The legend of the Trojan horse is ever-new, illuminating dire lessons to be learned due to contemporary issues in America.

Our country is in desperate need of an ethical renaissance. We must be vigilant due to the realities of deception from within.

America Beware

According to myth, the Trojan horse depicts a huge, hallow wooden horse constructed by the Greeks. It is designed to deceive by penetrating the walls of Troy during the Trojan War.

The Greeks deceived the Trojans to believe the horse was an offering to Athena, the goddess of war.

This deception violated not only physical security principles by gaining unauthorized access, but involved supernatural duplicity.

The Trojans were deceived to believe that their goddess would make Troy impregnable against their enemies.

Although the Trojans were warned, they allowed the Trojan horse to enter into the very heart of their society.

Afterwards, under cloak of night, Greek warriors emerged from the horse, and opened the gates for their army.

The moral of the story is to be aware of deception, especially through the guise of pleasantries, honor, and generosity.

Unfortunately, this lesson has not been learned throughout the ages, as individuals are continually manipulated, tricked, or scammed. When subterfuge takes place from within, it is particularly destructive.

There is a Latin verse in the "Aeneid", Book II, "Equo ne credite, Teucri. Quidquid id est, timeo Danaos et dona ferentes."

The expression is translated as "Do not trust the horse, Trojans! Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks, even bringing gifts."

America’s Crisis of Truth

Society must be built on the foundation of truth which always contradicts false witness, deception, and lying.

Truth is a moral requirement for society, and offenses against honesty, by word or action, are violations against character, ethics, and moral decency.

By our nature, we must exist in harmony with truth, as it is vital to the dignity of our humanity.

Truth is expressed through candor, sincerity, an honesty. It is a virtue required in the normal encounters of daily life, and it is mandatory at the highest levels of the nation.

Truth is always opposed to the destructiveness of deception, duplicity, and hypocrisy. Although deviance's may have their moment, truth must be forever upheld, for in due time, it will have its victory.

Truth is also a virtue which respects the virtue of justice. Whenever there are offenses against truth, as with rash judgement, deception, slander, immoral business practices, or calumny, there is an assault against justice.

Lying is commonly understood as the most direct offense against truth. The gravity of the lie is based on the manner in which truth is distorted, as well as the unjust suffering to its victims.

Lying is never acceptable, but tragically alive and well throughout America. If one is honest about contemporary realities of American life, we are experiencing a crisis of truth throughout every segment of society.

Dishonesty is rampant in our courts, with deceptive affidavits, perjury, and manipulating the truth with the intent to deceive.

Lying is also massive and pervasive through corporate greed, in families through infidelities, and at the highest levels of government through cover-ups, corruption, and hypocrisy.

America must realign its moral compass, and enhance our vigilance to safeguard democracy. We must have our eyes wide-open to the numerous seductive deceptions taking place throughout society.

We must be ever mindful that deceptiveness, under the guise of progressiveness, is a violation of truth.

The violation of truth always opposes the character, dignity, and destiny of America.

Dangerous false pronouncements that dishonor truth are toxic to the heart of the nation.

Truth must always be served. We must always take the moral high-road and never accept compromises that are intoxicated by mediocrity.

Final Reflections

America must dedicate itself to an ethical renaissance built on the pillars of truth, justice, and patriotism.

Our nation needs moral courage, ethical leadership, and unwavering vigilance for a reawakening. These principles must take place in the hearts of all; individuals, families, students, educators, law enforcement, community leaders, corporations, and government officials.

America will undergo a transformation when character, built on the foundation of truth is reawakened, renewed, and rejuvenated in the heart of the nation.

“We the People”, have a restlessness in our hearts that can only be satisfied when truth is served. This truth is only authentic when it is opposed to self-aggrandizing schemes, shallow slogans, or manipulative huckstering.

A Trojan horse has penetrated the heart of America, cloaked by a veil of deception, dishonesty, and hypocrisy.

It is time for all privileged to call America home, to change the course. This will only be possible through lives of character, honesty, and moral decency.

Related Coverage:

Drain the Swamp: Championing America’s Ethical Renaissance

America’s Corrupt Culture Beckons Ethical Renaissance

Note Well:

Linkedin: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing

Join Vincent’s Linkedin Group: The Sentinel: Reawakening the Nation

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Vincent is author of over 200 articles, including his weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times; 35 countries, 21 languages, and growing. As a national speaker, he has addressed audiences nationwide on issues critical to America including ethical leadership, violence prevention, and crisis planning.

Painting:

1. The Procession of the Trojan Horse in Troy by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (Public Domain)

2. People parade with a Trojan horse during an historical reenactment in front of the amphitheatre as part of the third edition of the Roman Games on April 28, 2012 in Nimes, southern France. (PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/GettyImages)

3. American Flags, Rockefeller Center, NYC. (Vincent J. Bove)

United Airline Reflects America’s Corporate Character Crisis

Respect for others is inseparable from character, which must be the heartbeat of America.

Harmony in society is only possible when character is encouraged, empowered, and enabled.

No one can live completely independent of others. Society by its very nature demands character. This virtue is a catalyst for peaceful co-existence with others.

Society benefits only through respectful exchanges with others, and service that develops trust.

Character allows us to be true to the dignity of our existence, and to the tranquility required by society.

When character is deficient, there is chaos, crisis, and confrontation. Character is essential for society, and it is also the transformational ingredient that will renew integrity.

Character inspires loyalty, trust, and respect. It enriches relationships, honors the common good, and will change the complexion of America.

Without character, society quickly disintegrates into adversities, divisiveness, and injustices.

America Requires Character

As detailed in my extensive published works for the Epoch Times, and a lifetime of presentations and published articles, character must be the heartbeat of America.

Character must be cultivated throughout society, and it must be developed in our youth from the age of reason.

It must be the heartbeat of our educational system, and continue throughout every segment of American life.

Character must also be ignited in our families, and every faith-based community, school, campus, government entity, and corporation.

When character is present, the dignity of the individual as well as the common good is enriched.

Conversely, whenever there is a deficiency of character, the integrity of society is compromised, diminished, and undermined.

Corporate America Requires Character

The disgraceful dragging of a bloodied doctor off a United flight recently disturbed the soul of America.

Compounding the incident, the initial and superficial legal-posturing of the airlines CEO lacked the moral courage required by the company leader.

Although this customer properly purchased a ticket, and was authorized to board, he was violently removed from the aircraft, to make room for employees needing to travel.

As a response to the video evidence of the incident, the Twitter response of the CEO pathetically read as follows:

“This is an unsettling event to all of us here at United. I apologize for having to re-accommodate these customers. Our team is moving with a sense of urgency to work with the authorities and conduct our own detailed review of what happened. We are also reaching out to the passenger to talk directly to him and further address and resolve the situation.”

Through this contemptuous response, the crisis of the incident was exacerbated by a lack of ethical leadership.

This response failed not only the violated customer, but all others on the flight. It also wounded the professional hard-working employees of United, the airline industry, corporate America, and the very morale of the nation.

The most basic conflict resolution, diplomacy, problem-solving, and communication skills were non-existent. There were many failures on many levels and with many people, all of whom should have known better.

It was a complete failure of leadership, professionalism, and moral decency.

This incident and its reprehensible response was an indictment of the character crisis in corporate America.

Only when we ignite character in the heart of corporate America, and throughout every segment of our society, will we be on track for a desperate ethical renaissance.

Corporate America: Respect the Common Good

Humanity has a social nature and each person has a responsibility to contribute to the common good.

This is only possible when we refuse to live as isolated individuals. We must realize that we are social by nature. Society is served when character is exemplified within our families, communities, corporations, and government representatives.

Essential to cultivating character in America is ensuring its presence in our corporations.

Every individual in corporate America who has been entrusted with authority has the responsibility to be ethical. Ethics is inseparable from character and it must be the heartbeat of corporate life.

Character must be the culture of corporate America. It must not be superficially expressed through slogans and mission statements. It must be alive and present in the corporate culture, experiences, and attitude.

America’s Ethical Renaissance Requires Corporate Ethics

There is a legion of American corporations representing a crisis of character extending far beyond the United scandal.

Some of the worst corporate scandals over the last 15 years include some of the most iconic names in corporate America.

These include Enron, WorldCom, Arthur Andersen, Tyco, Healthsouth, Freddie Mac, American Insurance Group, Lehman Brothers, Bernie Madoff, and Saytam.

The greed, dishonesty, and arrogance of individuals within these companies violated the most basic ethical principles.

It is time for America to turn the tide from this unethical corporate environment.

Corporate America needs ethical leaders who are fully committed by word and action to cultivating corporations of character.

Final Reflections

Moral courage, transformational character, and ethical leadership are critical to the integrity of society.

When virtues are present, both individuals and the common good are the beneficiaries.

The continuous scandals throughout corporate America reflect a crisis of character.

We must reawaken the nation through initiatives that inspire integrity, respect, and courtesy.

We will be on the path of a moral reawakening when character is the heartbeat of corporate America, and cultivated throughout every facet of American life.

Related Coverage:

NBC Scandal Reflects America’s Integrity Crisis

NFL Domestic Violence Scandal: Time for Action

Note Well:

Linkedin: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing

Join Vincent’s Linkedin Group: The Sentinel: Reawakening the Nation

Facebook: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing

Vincent is author of over 200 articles, including his weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times; 35 countries, 21 languages, and growing. As a national speaker, he has addressed audiences nationwide on issues critical to America including ethical leadership, violence prevention, and crisis planning.

America’s Culture of Deception: The Art of the Con

Truth is the indispensable moral sanction for a healthy society.

Whenever there is deception, or the misrepresentation of truth, the moral order required by society is wounded.

Our nation is experiencing a massive and pervasive pandemic of deception.

We must respond to the crisis of deception and dedicate ourselves to the principles of honor, integrity, and truthfulness.

America Demands Truth

All human activities demand sincerity, candor, and veracity. These virtues must be the iron-clad barriers against deceitfulness, duplicity, and hypocrisy.

Truth is a servant of justice, which can never be served by falsehood, slander, perjury, or calumny.

Lying is a direct offense against truth and a profound injustice. It violates an individual’s right to reputation, honor, and dignity.

Whenever anyone has the right to know the truth and is deceived, the harmony of a moral order is undermined.

Lying is contemptuous and deserves condemnation because it violates justice, charity, and trust.

When lying becomes normalized, the bedrock of trust required by society is violated.

Trust in society is impossible without truth as its foundation.

Deception: Destructive to America

On Monday, March 27, the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey released a statement providing insight into America’s culture of deception.

This statement focused on the sentencing of jewelry store owners for their roles in an international $200 million credit card scheme.

Yet, it clearly highlights the pervasive deception taking place throughout America, causing a rotting of the moral order from within.

In this case, two individuals were the heart of a scheme to fabricate 7,000 false identities to obtain tens of thousands of credit cards.

Participants, according to the official government statement, “doctored credit reports to pump up the spending and borrowing power associated with the cards. Then they borrowed or spent as much as they could, based on the phony credit history, but did not repay the debts-causing more than $200 million in confirmed losses to businesses and financial institutions.”

The statement on this case concludes with sobering statistics memorializing massive fraud taking place throughout America.

Over the past three fiscal years, the U.S. Department of Justice has filed more than 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants. This includes more than 2,700 mortgage fraud defendants.

The Con against America’s Senior Citizens

Compounding the deception throughout America highlighted in the aforementioned, the FBI has concerns for senior citizens.

Senior citizens are often targets for fraud schemes for reasons that include the following:

• Senior citizens often have a nest egg and excellent credit.
• Seniors are often polite and trusting and these virtues are exploited by con artists.
• Seniors often do not report fraud because they are embarrassed, or they are unaware they were scammed.
• Seniors often do not make reliable witnesses due to the extended time frame of the criminal justice system.

According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), the top 10 financial scams targeting seniors are as follows:

1. Medicare / health insurance scams
2. Counterfeit prescription drugs
3. Funeral / cemetery scams
4. Fraudulent anti-aging scams
5. Telemarketing / phone scams
6. Internet fraud
7. Investment scams
8. Homeowner / reverse mortgage scams
9. Sweepstakes & lottery scams
10. The grandparent scam

America’s Culture of Deception

Each day we are witnessing the realities of a culture of deception, and its detrimental impact on America.

The crisis of honesty is an indictment of our culture of deception. It is evident through the slick escapades of con artists victimizing law abiding citizens through scams, schemes, and shams.

But con artists can also victimize America at the highest levels of government. These examples are memorialized in the public corruption section of the FBI website and through extensive media coverage.

The list of American politicians convicted of crimes either committed, or prosecuted while holding office in the federal government is a travesty.

This scandalous list includes a Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressmen, a U.S District Judge, Chief of Staff to a Vice President, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and the Director of the Domestic Policy Council.

There is no end in sight to these scandals. Pending investigations of officials at the highest level of government will continue. These will certainly result in additional convictions of those who have disgraced the public trust.

Final Reflections

Society cannot exist without truth as its foundation.

Truth must be the pillar of America’s families, communities, workplaces, schools, houses of worship, government leaders, and armed forces.

Honesty is the only healing remedy to the venom of deceptiveness. The virtue of truth must be served by accountability, transparency, justice, and moral decency.

America must have its eyes wide open to those entrusted with leadership.

We have a right to expect truthfulness from all who take the oath to serve.

“We the People” also have the responsibility of reminding our leaders of the words of Thomas Jefferson:

“The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest.”

Related Coverage:

Drain the Swamp: Championing America’s Ethical Renaissance

American Government Requires Ethical Leadership

Note Well:

Linkedin: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing

Join Vincent’s Linkedin Group: The Sentinel: Reawakening the Nation

Facebook: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing

Vincent is author of over 200 articles, including his weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times; 35 countries, 21 languages, and growing.

Drain the Swamp: Championing America’s Ethical Renaissance

The term drain the swamp is originally associated with a method of destroying disease-carrying mosquitoes.

Yet, drain the swamp also has a figurative meaning of exterminating something harmful, toxic, or abusive.

Therefore, drain the swamp is applied to corruption, government waste, fraud, or deceptiveness.

Just as mosquitoes can transmit disease, unscrupulous individuals in positions of authority, with a toxic addiction to power, can be venomous to society.

America Requires an Ethical Renaissance

When Thomas Jefferson authored the Declaration of Independence, he began with these immortal words:

“When in the course of human events.”

Jefferson continues with enumerating grievances against the corrupt British crown.

He ignited fire in the hearts of patriots hungry for liberty, freedom, and human rights.

The heart of Jefferson was reechoed in 1858 with the senatorial campaign of Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln described Jefferson’s words as “the electric cord … that links the hearts of patriotic and liberty loving people together.”

As in the times of Jefferson and Lincoln, America is experiencing corruption, greed, and abuses of power.

The swamp must be drained, not by impotent words but by actions built on pillars of moral courage, transformational leadership, and persuasive character.

Only these principles can conquer our culture of corruption and lead us to an authentic ethical renaissance.

Public Corruption Undermines America’s Security

As we make efforts to reawaken the nation by remedying our culture of corruption, we must again turn to Lincoln.

On Jan. 27, 1838, in Springfield, Illinois, Lincoln addressed the reality of dangers, not from outside America, but from within.

In his address titled “The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions,” his words against the destructive ability of a tyrant demand our attention:

“Is it unreasonable, then, to expect that some man possessed of the loftiest genius, coupled with ambition sufficient to push it to its utmost stretch, will at some time spring up among us? And when such a one does, it will require the people to be united with each other, attached to the government and laws, and generally intelligent, to successfully frustrate his designs. Distinction will be his paramount object, and although he would as willingly, perhaps more so, acquire it by doing good as harm, yet, that opportunity being past, and nothing left to be done in the way of building up, he would set boldly to the task of pulling down.”

The reality of Lincoln’s words are upon us. There are many in positions of power that violate the public trust. They are not honoring their sacred oaths to serve. Instead, reprehensible examples of greed, self-aggrandizement, arrogance, superficiality, and self-centeredness are wrecking havoc on our moral compass.

America must remember that it is built on the foundation of “We the People.”

We must stand against this culture of tyranny and reignite principles of ethics, character, and leadership in the heart of America.

Public Corruption: A Swamp of Tyranny

Tyranny corrupts society when individuals use authority to exercise power oppressively or unjustly.

America is experiencing a swamp of tyranny as illuminated by this information on the FBI website:

“Public corruption, the FBI’s top criminal investigative priority, poses a fundamental threat to our national security and way of life. It can affect everything from how well our borders are secured and our neighborhoods protected to how verdicts are handed down in courts to how public infrastructure such as roads and schools are built. It also takes a significant toll on the public’s pocketbooks by siphoning off tax dollars—it is estimated that public corruption costs the U.S. government and the public billions of dollars each year. The FBI is uniquely situated to combat corruption, with the skills and capabilities to run complex undercover operations and surveillance.”

These are only a few examples from the FBI site, from the last 30 days alone, highlighting the magnitude of a swamp of tyranny.

• Former State Representative Indicted on Fraud Charges
• Former Treasurer of Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Tax, Obstruction of Justice, and False Statement Charges Arising from His Embezzlement of More Than $5.6 Million
• Former Postal Employee Convicted of Soliciting Bribes During Election
• Former New Jersey Attorney General and Chairman of Port Authority Board of Commissioners Sentenced to One Year of Home Confinement for Bribery
• Fulton County Contract Supplier Guilty of Giving Kickbacks Tied to Construction of Fulton County Detention Center
• Two Corrections Officers Sentenced for Smuggling Drugs Into Middleton Jail
• Former Arkansas State Senator and Two Others Charged with Bribery and Fraud Scheme
• Seven Baltimore City Police Officers Arrested for Abusing Power in Federal Racketeering Conspiracy
• Seven Defendants Plead Guilty to Millions of Dollars of Fraudulent Sales to Defense Department
• Former Ville Platte detective sentenced for filing false police report to cover up civil rights violation
• Former North Carolina State Senator Pleads Guilty
• Former Bayonne Official Sentenced to 21 Months Prison for Accepting $65,000 in Bribes for Awarding HUD Grant Funds

Igniting America’s Ethical Renaissance

The conclusion of my article for the Feb. 6, 2015 edition of the Epoch Times titled “America’s Corrupt Culture Beckons Ethical Renaissance” deserves reflection again.

“America will be the nation of character it is destined to be when these words become the heartbeat of the nation:

“Inspiring an ethical renaissance in America is a daunting task but we must rise to the occasion. Our country has had seemingly insurmountable trials before and we have risen to the occasion.

“Corruption is a crisis that runs deep within the arteries of many public servants. Our first step toward renewal is to accept the crisis of character as a reality without denial.

“When we make an honest assessment of this crisis, we can commit ourselves to reawakening the nation through accountability in the criminal justice system, ethics initiatives throughout every level of society, and a world-class, second-to-none character education initiative for every American student.

“If we are serious about America, we will be fully dedicated to its ethical renaissance and find no excuses for changing the course of the nation.”

Related Coverage:

American Government Requires Ethical Leadership

America’s Realignment: Character, Ethics, Leadership

Note Well:

Linkedin: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing

Join Vincent’s Linkedin Group: The Sentinel: Reawakening the Nation

Facebook: Vincent J. Bove Consulting, Speaker Services, Publishing

Vincent is author of over 200 articles, including his weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times; 35 countries, 21 languages, and growing.

Photos

1. Official Presidential portrait of Thomas Jefferson, 31 December 1799. (Rembrandt Peale / Public Domain)

2. Abraham Lincoln, 1865, 2 months before his death. (Alexander Gardner / Public Domain)