Needed - Men and Women of Character

Last Wednesday night, my son’s school handed out Scholar Letters for kids who had GPA’s above 3.75 for the 2004-2005 school year.

My son, Christopher, had a 4.0 so he received his letter and then dashed back off to play practice.

At the end of the ceremony, Dr. Bob Runnebaum, the High School Principal, read a piece given to him by one of his mentors.

I really liked the gist of the writing, so I inquired about it, and Bob sent me a copy.

I do not know the author, but here is the note he read:

Needed- Men and Women of Character


The world needs men and women. . .

-Who cannot be bought;
-Whose word is their bond;
-Who put character above wealth;
-Who possess opinions and a strong will;
-Who are larger than their vocations;
-Who do not hesitate to take risks;
-Who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
-Who will be as honest in small affairs as in greater;
-Who will make no compromise with wrong;
-Whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
-Who will not say they do it "because everybody else does it;"
-Who are true to their friends through good and bad, in adversity as well as in prosperity;
-Who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success;
-Who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular;
-Who can say "no" with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says "yes."