The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Ethics What's That?

by Dessa Rodeffer
Quill Editor/Publisher

1 March 2000

Ethics, it seems, is a forgotten word in the United States. At least when it comes to what is portrayed on our television screens as well as throughout our communities.

I am wondering if our values are lagging because too many are getting caught up in being very financially successful in business and have left no time to deal with raising and teaching the children of the things that are important in living their lives.

According to The American Dictionary on my computer, ethics is:

:A set of principles of right conduct.

:A theory or a system of moral values, or

:The standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession.

Where did we learn our moral values? It was at our mother's knees (or sometimes across them) depending on what we had done. It was mainly our mothers, because she was the one that was at home most of the day to deal the raising of the children.

But fathers also had a "no nonsense" approach to raising children and stood firm in what was right and wrong, acceptable and not acceptable while teaching their children the things that he felt were needed to prepare themselves in this world.

It's a struggle to teach our children good principles and moral values with the television and movies and many of their leaders and role models around them showing everything but good sense and good moral values. What's a parent to do?

Our television shows have been in need of some good programs for several years now but seemed to have stooped to an all time low with the latest Who Would Marry A Millionaire show that ended on a bad note last week.

Now who would have suspected that the woman who married entirely for money might be having some second thoughts a few days after the wedding about this guy she married?

Not that having money is bad, but to marry a guy because his billfold is bulging is not what we teach our daughters to look for. And it is not what we teach our sons they must have to find a woman of value.

When my father had his first heart attack , he took time to read more. By the time he was ready to leave the hospital he had memorized in Proverbs about what a good woman is. It was simply a beautiful piece of scripture to hear him recite it, especially knowing he felt my mother had many of these qualities.

My mother felt good and felt loved by my dad, because my father admired the good qualities that she possessed.

What a love affair.

Qualities like truth, honor, compassion, love, and hard work under the principles of God were admirable traits to have.

These were the principles our first President of The United States had as our first great leader. He had a tremendous amount of strength in character.

According to Peter Marshall, Jr., on the radio this week, he told of an incident where one of his soldiers at the table swore. Something he didn't allow in his presence. He said that General Washington, put his napkin down, and stood up and said, "I had assumed we were all gentlemen sitting at this table." And then Washington left.

The soldier said it couldn't have been more hurt than if he had been stabbed with his sword.

Where is this strength of character being taught in our United States today. If we allow it into our homes, we are putting our stamp of approval on it. If we allow it in our schools, we are also putting on stamp of approval on it. It's nice to see men and women who carry with them ethics and principles- a good set of moral values they live by.

Whether it is parents, grandparents, our boss, teachers or our coaches, we are teaching those around us what we are made of, what we value. We teach by our action and by what we accept and by what we don't tolerate.

If our children are not acting the way we think they should, we best look in the mirror first, and see what values we have been teaching them.

Ethics modeled and taught at home would sure help the rest of the world in dealing with the children we have produced. And a good set of Christian values in homes has made many a great American in all walks of life.

Isn't it time we all got back to showing and insisting on ethics in our homes, schools, and communities, and in public events and affairs. Isn't it time we picked good leaders who represent this too.

Remember, what you accept is what you get.