Dear Parents, and Students
Affirming the significance of parent and family involvement has been a priority of the Montford Point Marine Association since it's founding.
We would like to introduce the "Veterans Say "character counts" class room or home program. Theses units will focus on citizenship, character, and Tolerance. The values emphasized as essential are fairness, good citizenship, responsibility, respect, trustworthiness, caring, and Montford Point Marines History. There is no continued monitoring required after the unit is completed.
James E Stewart Jr. author of Veterans Say """character counts""" makes the point that "In our lifetime, a few students come to some fuzzy thinking where ethics have been concerned.
I assure you that that's not our thinking here at MPMA. We don't want to have our heads in the wastebasket or in the sand. We know "character counts".
Come join us and all service veterans in our, Veterans Say "character counts" program. Be a part of the Ethical-Team
James E Stewart Jr. Past post Commander of Scott-Johnson-Collins VFW post 9619 and former Marine, retired schoolteacher, coach, and President of MPMA 28 says the topic is ethics, values, and character.
Just how far our society has come on ethics, values, and character was brought home to me recently in reflecting on an incident about a neighborhood teenager looking for a part-time job.
He was asked to take one of those integrity tests before the supermarket would hire him to sack groceries. At dinner he confided to his parents: "I'm kind of worried about that test they had me take today.
They had questions like: Have you ever taken drugs? Have you ever cheated in school? Have you ever stolen money from your parents? Have you ever stolen anything from a schoolmate or an employer?
When I started answering `no' to all those questions, I started worrying that they'd think I was lying because I sounded too good to be true." The student got the job. But where have we gotten to when our young people feel uneasy about being too honest to get a job!
Unfortunately, too many youngsters grab today's headlines for the wrong reasons-their unethical behavior rather than their good works.
Of course, these are not typical of all youngsters-not typical of even the majority of youngsters. But the point is-they are typical. Why do we have to pass policies and establish procedures on ethics? Isn't just plain old-fashioned honesty in vogue any more?
It hasn't been for quite some time. According to Winston Churchill, "A lie can run around the world before the truth can get its boots on." But besides an inner code of morality, there's a bottom-line reason for our interest in ethics.
In the experience of most or at least among those who voice their experience to others-unethical behavior sparks a disappointment mode that runs throughout the entire community.
So there are two over-riding reasons for the Montford Point Marine Association, and the Veterans Say "character counts" program.
Apprehension for ethics: (1) A basic moral code that we value and subscribe to and (2) a common-sense law of integrity with our schools, community and Country.
Speaking of ethics in general, Stewart says, "Improving our shared ethics, values, and character is something that all veterans feel merits a strong effort.
It will take substantive, structural work-not just a quick paint job." We ask that all make those individual decisions that involve an ethical matter based on our general guidelines in the Veterans Say "character counts" program.
But when students find themselves in a situation that they feel needs clarification, ask. Don't keep quiet. As Andrew Jackson said, "One man with courage is a majority." We want our students to be the individual with courage to make the ethical decision.
We're committed to making sure the ethical decision becomes the majority position here in America. But our students, as our youth and ambassadors write the final line. They are the future.
To the general public and to our community, kids are hope. And all the policies in the world won't do much good if they, as our front-line representatives, make the wrong decisions day to day.
Our ethics are embodied in youth. If you want to make sure that you're in step with Montford Point Marines, Say "character counts".
We want those to be the primary considerations in all personal or class decisions. In short, we don't want our youth to bend the rules; we want students to embrace them. Mark Twain once said, "Always do right. This will gratify some people and surprise the rest." Either way, you win.
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