Every election we hear about “family values”. We’re a few short months away from this tattered and battle-worn drum beating loudly once again. Our politicians will dive headfirst into the thorny issue of what constitutes family and whether or not we all share the same values. It’s a complex issue and the debate, although passionate, is rarely fruitful. Perhaps we should shift our focus to the individual rather than the family unit. After all, every social structure imaginable is made up of the same component parts – individual people. You. Me. That strange dude that you seem to run into all over town. That passive aggressive anonymous guy that keeps posting obnoxious comments on your favorite blog. Myriad individuals, each of whom are part of many different social structures. And since every structure is only as strong as its weakest link, addressing the character weaknesses of individuals promises to be a pretty leveraged endeavor. A compelling return on our investment awaits us.
The Boy Scouts were onto something over 100 years ago when they created what they call the Boy Scout Law. Although the Boy Scout Law has evolved a bit over the past century, it does a decent job of defining a set of character attributes that boys should embrace as they become men. It’s a good list. Not perfect, perhaps, but a terrific starting point. There’s no question our world would be a better place if more folks – men, women and children – embraced these character traits. It would make for better interpersonal relationships, work environments, classroom and playground interactions, and business dealings. And hopefully, if we aligned our real and virtual selves, it would also dramatically improve the culture online.
BOY SCOUT LAW (with some interpretation from the Boy Scout Handbook)
A Scout is Trustworthy.
A Scout tells the truth. He is honest, and he keeps his promises. People can depend on him.
A Scout is Loyal.
A Scout is true to his family, friends, Scout leaders, school, and nation.
A Scout is Helpful.
A Scout cares about other people. He willingly volunteers to help others without expecting payment or reward.
A Scout is Friendly.
A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts. He offers his friendship to people of all races and nations, and respects them even if their beliefs and customs are different from his own.
A Scout is Courteous.
A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He knows that using good manners makes it easier for people to get along.
A Scout is Kind.
A Scout knows there is strength in being gentle. He treats others as he wants to be treated. Without good reason, he does not harm or kill any living thing.
A Scout is Obedient.
A Scout follows the rules of his family, school, and troop. He obeys the laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rules and laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobeying them.
A Scout is Cheerful.
A Scout looks for the bright side of life. He cheerfully does tasks that come his way. He tries to make others happy.
A Scout is Thrifty.
A Scout works to pay his own way and to help others. He saves for the future. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property.
A Scout is Brave.
A Scout can face danger although he is afraid. He has the courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at him or threaten him.
A Scout is Clean.
A Scout keeps his body and mind fit and clean. He chooses the company of those who live by high standards. He helps keep his home and community clean.
A Scout is Reverent.
A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.
Although the Boy Scout Law evokes more than a little bit of a 50s vibe, it reminds us that we can choose how we treat others and our environment. A message worth getting nostalgic about. Now, I would be remiss to ignore the fact that the Boy Scouts organization has had some pretty backwards (and sometimes hypocritical) views about homosexuality over the years. They are also a bit too militaristic for my personal taste. However, when it comes to defining the character of a model citizen, they had their act together back in 1908 when they first committed their membership to a common code of conduct.
Today, we have an opportunity to learn from the Boy Scout Law while distancing ourselves from scouting per se. Perhaps we could make up a more modern set of guidelines to set the aspirations for our national character. I would be proud to sign an American Character Pledge, if such an article were drafted, by the people, for the people.
It would be cool if a bipartisan grass roots campaign adopted such an idea and set out to define the American Character for today’s world. The goal? To get our citizens to weigh in on who we collectively want to be moving forward. No resting on our laurels. No hiding from our sins. Let’s be a country full of individuals that folks around the world can relate to, respect and admire, not for our wealth and power but for our character.
Where do I sign?