Recent controversies exhibit need for character development
DAN MEYER Political Columnist
Character counts. Character matters. Creating a culture of character should be the ultimate goal of the entire Western New York community.

In light of the recent controversy involving the City of Buffalo Police Department and the suspension of Detective Dennis Delano and the ongoing saga of questionable decision making involving a handful of authority figures at Buffalo's McKinley High School, there was no better time for an internationally known speaker who praises the benefits of possessing good character to visit our area to talk about character development.

Steven Menzel, who serves as director of the International Association of Character Cities, visited the town of Hamburg last week and spent the better part of two days talking to anyone who would listen about how important the commitment to character development is when it comes to the places where we live, work and worship.

Menzel's work for the Character Training Institute, a nonprofit organization based out of Oklahoma City, includes a total dedication to providing the tools needed to help equip businesses, schools, churches and communities to develop good character.

Menzel's series of talks included presentations to small business owners, civic group leaders, students, Boy Scouts and a private sit down with Erie County Executive Chris Collins and Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard.

The message during each session was simple: for far too long now, communities have shied away from addressing the issues of morals and ethics.

"We live in a world where character is declining," Menzel said during a talk he had with a couple of hundred high school students at Immaculata Academy. "We have a real need for character development and character enhancement. It has to happen."

Menzel said the mindset of people saying, "It's not my job" is happening more and more, and the end result is widespread chaos when it comes to the core values and qualities that make a community a great place to live, work and do business. Personal behavior has deteriorated to the point that we continue to see headlines about unethical business practices, crime, drug and alcohol abuse, government fraud, and, perhaps the most troubling of all, the breakdown of families.

"Character is so, so, so important," said Menzel. "The community approach to teaching character is the only way to do it. We need to introduce character development by expecting good character from yourself and then encouraging it and admiring it in others."

Menzel's mindset about how important character is includes the constant reinforcement of how strong character qualities like compassion and reliability and honesty can help lead to sound decision making.

"Character determines your response to difficult situations," said Menzel.

"Character is who you are, even when no one else is watching. Character is the most accurate predictor of future behavior."

Menzel said the promotion of developing good character - a practice that has been under way in Hamburg for the past seven years as part of a communitywide initiative aimed to uphold, promote and celebrate strong character throughout the town - does not include promises of perfection or aim to dictate morality to any one individual.

"Life is full of mistakes, and it's how you recover from those mistakes that helps you to establish your character," said Menzel. "Everyone needs to embrace a goal of personal growth in order to reach their full potential and strive to be a person of character."

Menzel's presentations, particularly the interaction with Collins and Howard, will hopefully result in leaders from other Western New York communities to begin exploring how they can take a meaningful role in the nurturing of a character community.

And we can only hope that certain city and school district officials in Buffalo are taking careful notes.

(Daniel Meyer is a columnist for the Weekly Independent Newspapers of Western New York. Comments on this column can be sent via e-mail to: meyersmusings@gmail.com. Opinions expressed here are those of the author.)