In 1992 the Josephson Institute of Ethics published the Six Pillars of Character, a set of universally accepted core ethical values which cut across cultural, religious, and socioeconomic statuses. They were developed as a roadmap for young people to help them navigate the challenges and contradictions of human life. Getting these ideals in front of kids and teens was a noble attempt to advance common foundational standards. Today large banners highlighting the pillars are a common sight in middle and high school hallways and auditoriums across America. Perhaps you’ve seen them.
• Trustworthiness: Honesty, integrity, reliability, loyalty, and keeping promises.
• Respect: Treating others with dignity, valuing differences, and showing consideration.
• Responsibility: Being accountable for actions, fulfilling commitments, and demonstrating self-control.
• Fairness: Playing by the rules, being open-minded, and treating everyone equally.
• Caring: Showing empathy, compassion, and concern for others.
• Citizenship: Engaging in community, respecting laws, and contributing to society.
Most of us can agree this is a fine basis for a personal ethos. The concepts are solid. They possess a visceral moral authority, a backbone for civilized human life. They encapsulate a worldview we hope our children will model. It is difficult to imagine any rational person arguing against them, right?
Yet, here we are in 2025 and the epicenter of American power lies again with Donald Trump, a person who never displays any of those six basic humanistic qualities, not a single one. He doesn’t even emulate any of the accompanying adjectives. It is horrifyingly dreadful. Of course, his sycophants would push back on that assessment. Trump his ownself would certainly push back with a relentless barrage of accusations which would be impressive in their persistence if not so nakedly pathetic. It is incredibly unnerving and disheartening that enough Americans simply didn’t care about his poisonous, criminal character and elevated him back into the presidency. Say what you want about his predecessors, but at least they each showed some semblance of an ethical compass.
But even so, the Six Pillars of Character are just words, meaningless without follow through. As we all know, actions always speak louder than words. The more people bloviate about this and that, the more we should pay attention to what they actually do when their rabid mouths are shut.
Donald Trump continues to butcher the institutions and harm the people he swore to defend. Each day he shamelessly demonstrates his untrustworthiness, contempt for respect, abdication of responsibility, disdain for fairness, lack of caring, and mockery of citizenship. As ridiculous as it sounds, it would not be all that surprising if the Six Pillars of Character banners started disappearing from our schools. Not through executive order or pressure campaigns. Even children know how ridiculous it sounds to encourage a virtuous framework for living when the president got where he is gleefully doing the exact opposite.
Trask Avenue
character assassination
Posted: March 25, 2025 in Observations and CommentaryTags: America, American life, character, life, Six Pillars of Character, Trump
• Trustworthiness: Honesty, integrity, reliability, loyalty, and keeping promises.
• Respect: Treating others with dignity, valuing differences, and showing consideration.
• Responsibility: Being accountable for actions, fulfilling commitments, and demonstrating self-control.
• Fairness: Playing by the rules, being open-minded, and treating everyone equally.
• Caring: Showing empathy, compassion, and concern for others.
• Citizenship: Engaging in community, respecting laws, and contributing to society.
Most of us can agree this is a fine basis for a personal ethos. The concepts are solid. They possess a visceral moral authority, a backbone for civilized human life. They encapsulate a worldview we hope our children will model. It is difficult to imagine any rational person arguing against them, right?
Yet, here we are in 2025 and the epicenter of American power lies again with Donald Trump, a person who never displays any of those six basic humanistic qualities, not a single one. He doesn’t even emulate any of the accompanying adjectives. It is horrifyingly dreadful. Of course, his sycophants would push back on that assessment. Trump his ownself would certainly push back with a relentless barrage of accusations which would be impressive in their persistence if not so nakedly pathetic. It is incredibly unnerving and disheartening that enough Americans simply didn’t care about his poisonous, criminal character and elevated him back into the presidency. Say what you want about his predecessors, but at least they each showed some semblance of an ethical compass.
But even so, the Six Pillars of Character are just words, meaningless without follow through. As we all know, actions always speak louder than words. The more people bloviate about this and that, the more we should pay attention to what they actually do when their rabid mouths are shut.
Donald Trump continues to butcher the institutions and harm the people he swore to defend. Each day he shamelessly demonstrates his untrustworthiness, contempt for respect, abdication of responsibility, disdain for fairness, lack of caring, and mockery of citizenship. As ridiculous as it sounds, it would not be all that surprising if the Six Pillars of Character banners started disappearing from our schools. Not through executive order or pressure campaigns. Even children know how ridiculous it sounds to encourage a virtuous framework for living when the president got where he is gleefully doing the exact opposite.
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