Comments on: Character First!

Character First!

Otis — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 14:21:45 -0800

Character Counts! Last year, Arizona State Treasurer David Petersen stood in front of the International Building Cities of Character Conference to deliver a keynote address. Inside the Character Training Institute's headquarters, Petersen took to the conference podium to tell how his state's Family Services Committee passed "Character Education Legislation." "All schools now have it implemented," he said. "We're fighting for the soul of this nation." Petersen added that he attributed his passion for character to a personal meeting with evangelist Bill Gothard, founder of Institute in Basic Life Principles. Petersen is now the focus of a theft and fraud inquiry alleging that he used his position and state funds to promote the character education program, a program to which he had financial ties. Is your city a City of Character?

By: Ironmouth

Ironmouth — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 14:45:05 -0800

Us liberals are the last to learn that words speak louder than actions.

By: ericb

ericb — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 14:48:52 -0800

Brings to mind another pillar of virtue and morals -- William Bennett ("Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories)" who lost millions gambling on slot machines in Las Vegas over the years.

By: elpapacito

elpapacito — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 14:50:36 -0800

Today crime, juvenile delinquency, broken families, and overcrowded prisons overshadow many nation's productivity, ingenuity, and prosperity. The reason for this decline is the lack of individual character. Ahahahaahah sure sure it is ALL YOUR FAULT all the time all the way ! Of everything, anytime, anyway ! And if by chance, big fat greek chance..if by chance it is not your fault....WHY didn't you HELP ! It's your fault again !

By: elpapacito

elpapacito — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 14:52:26 -0800

Did I mention IT IS YOUR FAULT ?

By: Elim

Elim — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 14:55:42 -0800

I accept full responsibility for not pointing out IT IS YOU FAULT earlier, Mea Culpa!

By: Elim

Elim — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 14:56:28 -0800

"YOUR" Gads! Why did I have to take all that ritilan earlier..

By: elendil71

elendil71 — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 15:01:56 -0800

I call foul that there isnt a single Nevada city on that list! We have loads of characters! Casino moguls, gangsters, legal prostitutes, biker gangs, secessionists, Men-in-Black, and lil' green men just to name a few! We were gyp'd.

By: BrotherCaine

BrotherCaine — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 16:06:59 -0800

Why is there always such a gap between those who talk and those who demonstrate.

By: BrotherCaine

BrotherCaine — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 16:07:13 -0800

oops *?*

By: cell divide

cell divide — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 16:29:18 -0800

Sounds almost as bad as Bush's mom giving a Katrina donation 'earmarked' for her son Niel's lame company.

By: MonkeySaltedNuts

MonkeySaltedNuts — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 16:45:16 -0800

Whatever Became of Bill Gothard?

In the 1970's Bill Gothard led "Basic Youth Conflicts" seminars all over the country in which he proclaimed the virtues of the patriarchal chain of command family structure. ... My initial impression is that Gothard has found a way to make a handsome living repackaging his old "Character Sketch" material and selling it to public schools and city governments. All he did to give it a secular appearance was to remove the bible quotes and biblical citations.

By: MonkeySaltedNuts

MonkeySaltedNuts — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 16:46:36 -0800

sorry, that link above should be: Whatever Became of Bill Gothard?

By: pompomtom

pompomtom — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 17:04:37 -0800

Is this like when a real-estate agent shows you a total dump of a place and tells you it's got 'real character'?

By: Wolfdog

Wolfdog — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 17:43:27 -0800

wc -c

By: disillusioned

disillusioned — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 18:27:32 -0800

Sigh. I've played poker with Petersen's son. (Who's actually a lawyer himself. He's in the office next to mine.) There's a lot going around that is just awful, but I'm not informed enough to take one position or another.

By: loquacious

loquacious — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 20:33:36 -0800

ARIZONA Avondale Camp Verde Cottonwood Payson All of these cities pretty much suck. For most of them I've heard anecdotal tales from residents about police corruption, backscratching, nepotism and all that same old happy horseshit that happens in smaller towns when the wrong people are in office. CALIFORNIA Compton Chowchilla Fresno Mission Viejo Watsonville All of these cities suck, too. Not so many anecdotal tales for these even though I'm a native Californian ex-patriate, but Compton can speak for itself. Fresno is a wasteland of tweakers, angry cops and angry kids. Mission Viejo, though, stands out in an odd way. It is or was a rather high income bedroom community, but rapidly became or is becoming the "ghetto" of rich, mostly white Southern Orange County, CA. I think the yuppies are fleeing onward to Dana Point, Aliso Viejo, and worse, Coto de Caza. Cities of Character? Feh. Cities to build your character in as you struggle and attempt to flee for your life, more like.

By: srboisvert

srboisvert — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 15:31:06 -0800

Quite a character! [slinks out the back of the room]