On the Lookout for Character In 2012

As I slowly read my way through my summer stack of books, I find myself relishing the idea of character, what constitutes good versus bad character, and why for some people good character comes so seemingly easy and for others not so much.

Character, I have come to realize has little to do with money, fame or wealth. In fact, it’s almost the opposite. It feels like the harder people work to achieve their dreams and the tougher the obstacles, the more likely good character will immerge. As I flip through the pages of Peggy Noonan’s When Character Was King, the story of Ronald Reagan, I learn quickly why the widely respected president did what he did during his lifetime and presidency — for better (economy) and for worse (amnesty) — and why this kind man’s character today remains imprinted on so many Americans.

As Noonan explains, Reagan’s courage, his kindness, his persistence, his honesty, and his almost heroic patience in the face of setbacks are what set him so far apart from others throughout his lifetime. These qualities of character are timeless; they set apart the good from the truly great regardless of sex, race or skin color. Sadly, these same qualities seem to be not only sorely lacking in Washington D.C. but also seemingly among many of today’s Americans. I am not sure if today’s culture of corruption and confusion, remiss of the traits which make up good character, is systemic to just liberalism or not. I have seen and experienced the same disingenuousness in conservative politics too — power and control are undeniably enticing.

In 2011, the vitriol political environment fuels bad choices and back-room deals and Americans across party lines know this to be true. What’s best for Americans comes in blatantly second place. While many sit back and mock the increasingly popular Tea Party Movement without understanding the movement’s core mission and values, it will be IMHO one of the major guiding forces that filters out the Elite GOP from the true common-sense conservatives over the course of the 21st century. The Tea Party Movement can, as it becomes understood by younger generations, transform the Elite-centric Republican Party from perceived dorks (as Patti Reagan said as a child as she watched dad deliver one of the speeches of his lifetime) to cool but only if done right. Conservatism and hip in the same sentence, this elephant is surely dreaming.

A Must Watch: Reagan's Famous 1964 Rendezvous with Destiny Speech  

When American youth are finally educated on what it means to actually be Conservative, a newfound clarity will occur much like it did when Reagan took the state of California by storm in the 60s / 70s and America in the 80s as our 40th president. In other words, when Americans’ revisit what common-sense Conservatism stands for — for less government, for freedom, for more of the dollar in your pocket and less taken by government, and for less welfare and more self-esteem building independence — Washington and America will be heading down the
right road.

As a mom who has tried very hard to walk the walk, stay true to her beliefs, believe in the importance of her professional skills (with much help from my fabulous business partner and long-time friend Melissa Clyne), love her family without conditions and her friends with minimal conditions (come on, I am only human), I watch the bipartisan infighting and posturing which surround today’s debt ceiling crisis talks, demand for a balanced budget, immigration reform not excluding dire lack of border security, and the barrage of multiculturalism versus proud assimilation sucking the life out of this country.

On these occasions, my mind wanders: where is our 21st century Ronald Reagan hiding?

You know, Reagan was right…there is no left or right, only up and down. I vote UP! How about you?