What are you reading now?

[J. Beckert]

(08-28-2013 08:31 AM)L Verge Wrote:  Speaking of overcoming difficulty and adversity, I am enamored of the great physician, Dr. Ben Carson, and am reading his book America the Beautiful. His subtitle and theme relates to rediscovering what made our country great and how to overcome obstacles that have tarnished that greatness over the years. He shows great respect for our Founding Fathers and what motivated their actions at their particular time in history.

His book should be required reading in every twelfth-grade classroom with valuable class discussions to instill renewed values in students who will be entering adulthood, voting, fighting to preserve democracy here and abroad, parenting future generations, and playing a role in our economic future as well as society in general.

Living just fifteen miles from the U.S. Capitol, and with today being the 50th anniversary of the march on Washington (which I remember in 1963), I could not help but make a comparison between Dr. Carson's message and Dr. King's "I have a dream..." message: "I have a dream that one day my four little children will be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

Dr. Carson, who grew up in the projects of Detroit and Boston, fulfilled Dr. King's dream of being judged by the content of his character. That is the quality that all of us should aspire to also - no matter our race, creed, or color. This famed neurosurgeon and noted public speaker (among other accomplishments) took what was handed him and made lemonade out of it. He did not stand back and moan and cry about injustices done to his ancestors - he overcame it with a positive attitude, education, and hard work. That's what will keep America going in the future.

That was outstanding, Laurie. I can't think of anything more important or personally satisfying than being judged solely on the content of one's character. Character and personal integrity make the man. (Or woman). Our country needs more role models like Dr. Carson.