my essay on Confucius

Throughout history many intelligent men have written guidelines and codes of conduct. Few non Christian men however have hit the mark as close as Kong- fuzi, better known as Confucius. “Confucius was China’s most notable thinker.” (Fiero, 2006) “Confucius confidently maintained that human character, not birth, determined the worth and status of an individual. He had little to say about gods and spirits; nor did he pursue ultimate truth (in the manner of the Greek philosophers). Rather, he taught the importance of tradition, filial piety (respect for one’s elders), and the exercise of li. In doing so, he formulated the first expression of the so-called “Golden Rule”: “What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.” (Fiero, 2006) I believe that a ruler or president must definitely set a moral example for his or her people; furthermore a person set in a position of authority should conduct themselves in the same manner in which they would have their citizen’s act.
The number one priority of a president, king, or ruler should be to display the conduct that they expect of their citizens. It brings to thought the old saying of parents or grandparent “Do as I say not as I do.” As we should have learned by now, that just does not work. Children mimic their parents, as do teenagers mimic their favorite television stars. Why then would you expect citizens not to mimic their leader? And why would a leader expect their citizens to adhere to a code of conduct that they themselves cannot adhere to? This rule of thought should not only apply to the president, but to any person holding a position of authority. Police officers, politicians, and teachers alike should hold themselves to a higher moral standard than the rest of society; because these are the people who are responsible for setting the ethical bar of society.
The sad truth is that this is often not the case, the men and women who are in positions of authority often misuse their power. Believing they are above the law they carry on in any manner they so desire, while trying to hold the rest of society to a moral code they themselves cannot keep. “Moral authority is about more than image, say presidential scholars. It's about trust and credibility, qualities a president needs when he asks some sacrifice of his fellow citizens, or bids them follow him on a march to somewhere unknown. “ (Kiefer, 1998) That trust so often misused and played on for personal gain, that it makes it hard for citizens of any society to trust their leaders. “"Trust stands in the political system as money stands in the economic system. [It] allows transactions to be made," says John Kessler, a professor of political science at Ohio State. "In the absence of trust, you can't have political deals.”” (Kiefer, 1998)
It takes more than a man with strong morals to run a country; a leader must also have political intelligence. I however believe that an ethical man with no political intelligence would run our country better than a crooked politician. “Moral authority is not the only virtue that a president needs, of course. In recent history, President Carter was considered a man of moral character, but his presidency was not particularly effective because he lacked political sense, points out presidential scholar Martha Joynt Kumar.” (Kiefer, 1998) Although his presidency may not have been as effective as some may have liked, his moral virtue is still remembered today. “On the other hand, although President Reagan would often mix up fact and fiction, "these were questions that were not essential to his character," she says. Despite Iran-contra, Mr. Reagan was still able to articulate the difference between right and wrong, maintain credibility with the public, and leave a legacy of a militarily strong America that contributed to the downfall of Communist Europe.” (Kiefer, 1998) I however disagree, if a man cannot differentiate between fact and fiction, then how can he run a country?
In conclusion, my personal opinion is that moral values should be held to a higher level of importance than political prowess. There are many dishonest men and women out there who are well educated in politics. But just because they are well educated in politics does not make them fit to rule a country or even a state. “A recent poll by America's Talking cable-TV network reveals that 41.7% of 600 respondents want moral character in their President, while 21.1% seek vision for the nation. But just who the candidate may be is a little more elusive. Only 71.2% could name two candidates in addition to Bill Clinton, and an astounding 36% could not even name one. Meanwhile, a poll by New Republic indicates that a significant number of Americans aren't opposed to printing advertisements on U.S. currency if it would result in lower taxes. Some 35% of those surveyed were in favor of the "dollar billboard" concept.” (Poll Vault, 1995)









Works Cited
Fiero, G. k. (2006). The Humanistic Tradition. new york: McGraw-Hill.
Kiefer, F. (1998). The Presidents Credibility gap. Christian Science Monitor , 1.
Poll Vault. (1995). Human Events , 24.