[lit-ideas] virtue-practical example of being taught
- From: Eternitytime1@xxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2006 13:16:15 EST
The second part of the question is whether or not 'virtue' can be taught.
I state a resounding YES.
I am also not the only one who thinks/believes so. I will point to a couple
of examples.
Both are within the Scouting movement (and were/are very similar to each
other). Both are worldwide movements--and though in the scheme of things may be
small, many of the people who have 'lived by' them, still do. (I was at an
Eagle Court of Honor recently and one of the speakers there was talking about
how when he is interviewed [he works for Disney-fairly high up there] for
positions and is asked about his management style/beliefs, he paraphrases the
Scout Oath and Law ... and explains that those are the principles that he
tries
his best to live by. I was a Girl Scout and perhaps that is why I do the
same...the following are a huge part of what it means to be a Scout--not just
the
survival aspects [those are also important--and the stories told of some of
the survival aspects of Hurricane Katrina of what some of the scouts did are
inspiring...)
You have the Girl Scout Promise and Law and the Boy Scout Oath and Law
This is from the Girl Scouts:
Girl Scout Promise and Law
The Girl Scout Promise and Law are shared by every member of Girl Scouting.
The Girl Scout Promise is the way Girl Scouts agree to act every day toward
one another and other people, and the Law outlines a way to act towards one
another and the world.
The Girl Scout Promise
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God* and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
The Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
* The word "God" can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on one's
spiritual beliefs. When reciting the Girl Scout Promise, it is okay to
replace the word "God" with whatever word your spiritual beliefs dictate.
At this point in my life, I am extremely involved in the Boy Scout world.
Most scout troops (both boy and girl) take these attributes very seriously. A
lot of the beginning advancement requirements focus on the survival
skills--the top three focus on merit badges and the attributes within the Scout
Law. A
lot of the merit badges actually cause more learning on these attributes,
such as Citizenship in the Community. (I've been involved in some several
session workshops dealing with the issues in that merit badge
workshop--probably a
reason that Irene/Andy's viewpoint towards community was touching on a 'hot
button' for me...not so much as a 'reflection' of who I was, but what I was
involved in explaining what the concept of what living in a 'community' meant
anyway. Citizenship in the World is another one I like a lot too)
The 'honorary camping program' which allows for boy scouts (and leaders) to
continue to grow in the attributes of the Scout Oath and Law is what I
entered into last summer and got to see what and how the boys who will become
"Hardway Warriors" will have to think about and do in the following year. It
was
incredible if one likes to see young people learn and grow in the 'virtues'
...
Anyway...here is the Boy Scout Oath and Law:
Scout Oath
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
Scout Law
A Scout Is
Trustworthy
Loyal
Helpful
Friendly
Courteous
Kind
Obedient
Cheerful
Thrifty
Brave
Clean
Reverent
Just my thoughts on the practical side of whether or not these can be taught.
Best,
Marlena in Missouri
(who reminds her immediate boss to make decisions based on these principles
when decision-making situations arise...)
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