The Woodsman and the Leprechaun 558.2
Long ago, a woodsman saved the life of a leprechaun and was given one wish.
The woodsman thought for a long time and finally wished that each of his three daughters find a good husband. But the leprechaun was full of games.
"How am I to know what’s good in your mind? I’ll give them husbands, but you can name only one quality and it’s got to be the same for all. I can make them clever, strong, beautiful, rich -- you name it."
The woodsman said, "Give me men of good character."
The leprechaun wasn’t done playing. "How am I to know what good character is?"
"Do you have children?" asked the woodsman.
"I do," said the leprechaun.
"Do you love them?"
"More than life itself."
"Then give my girls the kind of men you would want for your children."
"Ah," the leprechaun said, "then you shall have honorable men with kind and loving hearts. And I’ll throw in strong conscience, too."
The woodsman was a shrewd man and a good father. He knew that the well-being and happiness of his children depended on the quality of their relationships. The quality of their relationships depended on the quality of the people they were with.
But what if the woodsman was asked what one quality he wanted in his own daughters? As a wise father, he would again have asked for good character.
Whether it’s in one’s spouse or oneself, cleverness, good looks, and money are nice, but in the end the most essential quality of a good life is good character.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
Comments
Long ago I earned a degree in forest management. During college and afterwards as a woodsman, managing timber lands in the Redwood forests of Northern California, I met a number of these clever leprechauns in many forms. In business of human capital management for nearly 20 years I’ve met many others. The most recent incarnation, potentially the most dangerous, is in the embodiment of public and private sector ‘leaders’. In their current manifestation these ‘leaders’ have found the legendary end of the rainbow and pot of gold in selling America's sole…its labor and productive capacity. For 30 pieces of silver, politicians line their pockets with the gold offerings of corporate ‘leaders’ conniving for cheap labor at the expense of millions of unemployed American blue collar, white collar, and technology workers. These leprechauns, public ‘serpents’ and private sector ‘thieves’ have become so clever, they have figured out ways to renege on their obligations to the woodsmen of America that gave them their respective political lives and who fill their pockets buying their products.
Many generations of patriots including those defending America today have given their lives and limbs for these scoundrels. Sadly, these leprechauns defile the sacrifice of American patriots by selling jobs to the lowest bidders…bidders who are often the very enemies our patriots have faced in battle. America’s political leprechauns trafficking in the games of outsourcing and hiring cheap legal and illegal labor are becoming more wily with every new generation of leprechaun. These leprechauns, while they speak of character, they pander to their mistresses of power. Sadly, “being clever, strong, beautiful, rich -- you name it" is what they seek…not character. How are these leprechauns, who have lost all semblance of honor, to know what’s good if ethicists won’t stand up and tell them? To bad America’s ‘leaders’ are not as wise as the leprechaun who encountered the woodsman; a leprechaun who understood his ultimate obligation of duty and honor. This generation of leprechauns has lost sight of their duty to honor and fidelity. If America is to survive…the nation's leaders need souls. Where is the honor in consciences of “leaders” that sell out American workers (blue collar, white collar, technology) for 30 pieces of silver in exchange for the corporate welfare in low cost foreign labor?
Doesn’t the well-being and prosperity of a nation depend on the quality of the relationships (trust) between its ‘leaders’ and citizens…the leprechaun and the woodsman? Doesn’t our nation need shrewd observers/ethicists (like a good father) to insure the clever rhetoric of its ‘leaders’ is exposed for what it is? Shouldn’t the rule of law and moral responsibility apply to leprechauns too? Whether it’s our leaders or citizens, isn’t the one quality, above all others, that should be protected at all cost…our national character…patriotism above self? In the end isn’t “the most essential quality” of a good national life…good character?
Americans are looking forward to you and your peers in the ethics community to begin addressing character in the concrete terms of immigration policy and practices.
Posted by: Brandon | March 20, 2008 12:51 PM
I love your site and all the information and write ups. I am a 45 year old mother with two teenage children whom I want to introduce to your site. Every day I am re-checking my own character and touching base with my qualities and the impact it has on me and the people around me. Thank you very much!
As Galileo quotes, " You can't teach people anything. You can only let them discover it within themselves." I am grateful to you for all the self-discoveries you connected me to.
Posted by: Renu | March 21, 2008 4:44 AM
RE your comment "But the worst theory came from radio advice commentator Dr. Laura Schlessinger."
I am a Dr. Laura fan and found her comments a bit odd -- but then when I thought about it -- she was talking in general -- not specific to this case. She was asked a general question, not trying to analyze this situation.
Dr. Laura has been so very much the champion of morality, of not doing any harm to kids, of treating your fellow man in a fair way. I am totally surprised to find you and her on opposite sides.
You two are way more alike than different and that is a credit to the both of you.
-- Cynde
Posted by: Cynde Magidson | March 22, 2008 9:53 PM