Freedom and Character, By T.S. Khanna, February 11,2015

Foundation for Better Government

(www.bettergovt.blogspot.com)

February 11, 2015

Freedom and Character

By T.S. Khanna, February 11, 2015

Human mind is the product of two factors: inheritance, and environment.   In a civilized society, from the childhood of a person, great emphasis is given to the character building environments.  In the recent past, character building environments have been eroding in the US; parents, schools, and churches have been abdicating their character building responsibility in the name of individual liberty/freedom---unbridled.

As a result, in place of strong character to face hard realities, kids learn soft skills to evade, circumvent, or override the facts and realities.  As they grow up, they use these techniques for self advancement by fooling the trusting people.

The case in point: Brian Williams of NBC, who has further muddied the waters for the entire profession of journalism.  What a change since Walter Cronkite!

Freedom of speech provides an easy escape for journalists and politicians, who fearlessly confabulate and fabricate lies for their self advancement.  There is little accountability.  It strikes at the root of democracy.

Success of democracy is rooted in the judgment of the voters.  Their judgment cannot be better than their information.  And their sources of information: Politicians, under the guise of advocacy, and, journalists, under the guise of non-partisanship, freely profess lies without any concern for the whole democratic system.

“…………..When character is lost, everything is lost”, should never be ignored.  We must rebuild the eroded character building environments.  Otherwise, we will be vulnerable to losing everything.