It Has To Stop

My reaction to the recent press conference by the Georgia Secretary of State.

That’s a character-builder,” my Dad said as I studied my next shot. The ball was halfway behind a tree, with no easy path to the green. I could risk it, with a nine-out-of-ten chance that the ball would hit the tree and I’d end up in a worse position than before, or I could play it safe, chip it out into the fairway and set-up a decent shot at the green. Either way, it would cost me a stroke.

As a teacher, I often used the term, character-builder, to refer to any situation with no easy way forward. When faced with a disappointment or loss, we can choose to get angry and complain about how “unfair” it is, or “they” are, or we can just deal with it as best we can and move on. We can pout and sulk or learn to do better next time. I wanted my students to learn that there is no shame in going back to the drawing board, doing the assignment over, or spending more time in the practice room. It seems to me, in life’s difficult moments our true character is revealed. Anyone who accepts responsibility, goes to work, makes the best of a difficult situation, and learns from adversity has my admiration.

The game of Golf is a good gauge of ethics and character. It’s been said of Golf (and jazz improvisation), “It doesn’t matter how you got into trouble, only how you get out.” A person with good character can get out of trouble with grace and humility. One with poor character chooses to lie, cheat, and rage against himself and others. Every golfer must learn, and re-learn, not to lose their temper. Anger does nothing to help with your next shot. It just makes the round worse for your companions. Lying and cheating should not require an explanation.

It was gratifying to work with students who persisted, who didn’t make excuses, who didn’t give up or get defensive or angry. I tried to encourage all my students, yet it was easy to help those who had the character to find their own motivation. It was almost impossible to encourage those who had made up their minds that they would never get it right or it was somebody else’s fault if they didn’t do well.

Abraham Lincoln said, “…if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” How a person handles power will reveal their character. And the more power they acquire, the more they will inevitably demonstrate their true nature. A humble, prudent person will wield power with care, making sure that they are acting with honor and using their power to protect others. An arrogant, egotistical person will refuse to accept responsibility, accuse and blame others, and try to hold on to power by any means possible.

Sometimes a person with poor character manages to acquire the power of a high office, perhaps the highest office in the land. What does it say about his character if in his desperate attempt to remain in power, he attacks good people, incites violence, and weakens his own country? Throwing your clubs in the lake doesn’t help you or your partner play the next shot. Lying about your score doesn’t make you a better golfer. Forcing the game into turmoil dishonors both the game and the players. If the rules of the game mean anything, they mean to preserve the dignity and integrity of all those who participate.

In any game, whenever a player ignores or flouts the rules, referees and other players have an obligation to sanction that player. Penalties are clearly specified in the rulebook. If a golfer signs an erroneous scorecard, they will forfeit the round, and perhaps the tournament. What then is the proper penalty for displaying poor character? All I know is that someone must say, “It has to stop,” even if those who could stop it have decided not to. No one has the “right” to repeat things that are not true. No one has the “right” to provoke irrational behavior. No one has the “right” to hold a nation hostage to his ego. No one has the “right” to remain in an office he has demonstrated he lacks the character to have held in the first place.