Kevin Craig is a professor of mechanical engineering at Hofstra University. He is a graduate of Xavier High School in NYC, the United States Military Academy at West Point and Columbia University.
I grew up as a teenager in New York City, New York, in the 1960s. It was a decade of social unrest and violent opposition to the Vietnam War. It was a decade during which people of character fought for social justice and truth, combating people whose only goal was self-gratification with no consideration for others. In breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball (MLB), Jackie Robinson sacrificed so much to help others. His purpose in life is engraved on his tombstone: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” His character eclipses all his accomplishments in baseball. There were many of the same character – Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, Rosa Parks, Bobby Kennedy, Bill Russel and Karem Abdul Jabbar, to name a few – tirelessly fighting for others. It was never about them, always about others. Why are people of character so rare these days? Why has character been blurred and degraded over the decades as if it doesn’t matter? What even is character?
A person’s character is the combination of their qualities and traits that make them who they are. These qualities are physical, emotional, mental and moral. Integrity is the cornerstone of character, as it refers to the quality of being honest and consistent in one’s actions and beliefs, even when faced with challenges. President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible.” Writer C.S. Lewis said, “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” Former United States Senator Alan K. Simpson also believed integrity is the essence of leadership, saying, “If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.”
The first question that must be asked when one is being considered for a position of responsibility in any field is, “Is this a person of high moral and ethical character with integrity?” This is not a shades-of-grey question. A person of character does not do what is right only sometimes. I am an educator, teaching engineering to those who, hopefully, will help solve the urgent problems the world faces. They must be people of character, and it is my responsibility to demonstrate what that is every minute of every day in all matters. People in all positions of authority must do that also. Why is this not happening, and why is the lack of character accepted by so many?
Professional competence is the ability to critically think and perform a job well. It is based on a person’s knowledge, technical skills and experience. It also includes the ability to apply ethical standards, communicate effectively and continue to learn and improve. Respect, the ability to acknowledge the worth of every single person regardless of their views, is paramount.
In selecting a person for a professional position in a company or government, there are only two questions that need be asked, “Is the candidate a person of character?” and “Is the person competent?” Why do I not hear this repeated over and over when people vote or when candidates are interviewed for high positions in government or the military? Why are we overlooking the obvious? The answer may be that there are so few people of character around. Character is not taught, it is demonstrated by everyday people in ordinary situations for others to observe and emulate.
Where is the outrage from people of faith to the lack of character, integrity and competence demonstrated by people in public office or aspiring to be in public office? I am a Christian. I believe Jesus Christ was a human being like you and me and that he was a man of character, the ultimate example for us to follow. Jesus Christ revealed a God who seeks us, a God who loves us far more than we love ourselves. Indeed, faith for a Christian is a conviction that God loves us unconditionally as we are, not as we should be. For those who freely accept God’s unconditional love, their acceptance has enormous consequences. They cannot look on others without realizing the mystery of God’s unconditional love for them too – to see God in all, to seek God in all is the challenge to the human spirit. There is no escape from social justice and respect for human dignity. Do you accept God’s love? The invitation is there. It is time for the challenge to be faced and for the invitation to be accepted. Becoming a person who lives a life of response to God’s love is a full-time job, 24/7, never-ending, with always more to be done. Yet, it is never too late. The time is always now.
