The Content of their Character pt. 11

We all want our children to be good.  Some of us remember those immortal words of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.,

But how many of us can easily recite a list of ingredients or traits a good character contains?  The parochial school where I didn't send my children has a special curriculum, complete with books, worksheets, and posters on the wall, stressing thirteen positive character traits.  We allow religious schools more leeway in discussing ethics, morals, and virtue than public schools.  However, as parents,we shouldn't depend on our children's schools to teach them how to be good people.

You might be blessed with wise parents, grandparents, or spiritual leaders who can tell you how to raise the perfect child.  If not, there is enough information out there in libraries and on the web that, if you're lucky, you might teach yourself before your children are grown.  But why reinvent the wheel when you have enough work on your hands as a parent already?  Here are some suggestions, taken from Ben Franklin, thought by some to be the wisest American of all time, and Rabbi Israel Salanter, the founder of the Jewish ethical movement,  מוסר.

RIGHTEOUSNESS

This is, of course, one virtue King did manage to preach in his short lifetime.  Indeed, he devoted his career to the pursuit of justice on a grand societal scale.  However, justice can also be understood as a personal character trait.  A person of good character can be relied upon to do the right thing and treat others fairly.  The Hebrew letters צדק form the root not only for justice and righteousness, but also the word for charity.  Keeping all of one's wealth for oneself and refusing to share it with those in need violates the basic principle of righteousness.  If we want our children to earn the respect of others, we need to teach them that famous "Golden Rule" about not doing anything unto others that they would not want others doing unto them.  Better than merely avoiding unjust behavior, they can earn admiration if they make the active pursuit of justice a priority.  As Ben Franklin put it, "Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."
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