Character

I read a story about SO 1 Charles Keating IV who was A Navy Special Operator, and killed in Iraq, and I was reminded of my father. No my father wasn’t a SEAL, he wasn’t even in the military, having been drafted and not taken for some reason. Keating did something that all good men do in this world. They made sure that their wives and families are taken care of even if they are not here. That is the common bond. Yes, Keating is a hero, for serving his country and giving his life in the service of others. But he appears to be more than that. He appears to have been man of character.

 I further read where Keating married his fiancée, just before leaving, and in doing so made sure she was taken care of. This is what all good men do. This is what my father did. My father sacrificed so others could have an easy life. My father’s sacrifice wasn’t as drastic, but it was no less heroic. Keating did what he had to do to keep everyone safe, the same as my father and every good man in this country has done. But it is not the act, but the character behind the act, that makes Keating and all good men do what they do. Not only should Keating be honored as a warrior, but we should also honor him for being a good man. One who did his duty; for his family, his country, and others. A duty for which he paid a terrible cost.

 We all know of his notorious father and grandfather and their crimes against finance. But Charles Keating IV is an example of how one’s environment doesn’t necessarily make the person. In this case it didn’t. Character is reinforced by one’s environment, not a product of it. The good character in Keating IV was something that he was born with. We all as men good and bad, do what we do for different reasons. Some it is for money, some it is for love, some of those reasons are sinister and some aren’t, and some because it is all they know. Others say there are those who are born evil in this world and that may be true. But Here is an example of good being born in this world. Too many times we celebrate the bad and ignore the good. Well maybe this time we should celebrate the good in this world.