GOOD character leads to fortune – without a doubt. What happens if nations don’t keep to their character? They suffer eternal extinction. Had it not been for this, the Greeks and Romans wouldn’t have seen a downfall. A once prosperous and proud civilization was brought to its knees due to a dearth of moral principles. The strong families and morals that had once been the foundation of Roman greatness were eventually abandoned in favour of laxity and weakness. Character paves the way toward the long-term survival and growth of nations. Is it possible for countries to set aside the fundamentals of character and still thrive? It’s like asking for a rainbow on a dark, dismal night. Is it feasible for a nation to stray away from its traditional cultural values and remain successful? It’s like expecting rain while the sun is at its brightest.
How can the symbol of success, the hummingbird, make a home in the land of a nation devoid of the virtue of character? Regrettably, the oppressive shadow of moral and ethical downfall prevails over the lands where character strength dwindles. Can a nation accomplish considerable progress if its leaders dismiss the blessing the strength of character offers to them? It is like hoping for a refreshing gust of air in Death Valley. Furthermore, how can women and children feel safe if a nation does not educate its men to guard them, even if it means sacrificing their own lives – a characteristic of a strong moral base? For nations to survive, they must concentrate on cultivating the moral strength of their citizens as weakness in character creates a breeding ground for maliciousness to grow. This presents a lesson of what can transpire if a nation ignores its core values.
The character of nations is the deciding factor of their success or failure in every area of life. Throughout its history, Japan has placed a significant emphasis on cultivating a strong sense of character and moral values. Bushido and the Samurai code of honour have been major factors in shaping Japanese society and its cultural values. Japan’s strength to persevere in the face of difficulties has been enhanced by its adherence to loyalty, courage and self-discipline. Singapore’s emphasis on character development and moral values has played a large part in its remarkable economic growth and social stability. The government has implemented plans to foster civic-mindedness, social cohesion and accountability among its citizens. The success of Singapore has been shaped, in part, by its promotion of a national character that emphasizes hard work, discipline and communal harmony.
The success of nations is rooted in cultivating moral strength in their people. When a society is rooted in virtuousness, sons and daughters can live without fear and insecurity. Transparency, accountability, equality and the equitable allocation of resources are the cornerstones of such a society. Strengthening social character leads to increased tolerance, patience and respect for others, which can have a profound effect on society. Unfortunately, our nation has not been able to develop due to the many evils we’ve encountered, which implies that we have overlooked the value of cultivating the principles of character-building. Our youth today think that to be successful, they must link up with powerful elites. This isn’t their fault. We have created a social order that offers advantages to those who gain influence with the powerful, resulting in this situation.
We are not teaching the younger generation that having strong ethics will help them stay on the right track and lead to success, but instead that they have to have money and power to get by, even if it means going against their values. The young people have little respect for moral and ethical values, which is an indication of a weakening of the foundations of ethical values. Our women and children do not feel secure in this community. It only takes a single post on social media to ruin someone’s reputation, regardless of whether the claim has any truth behind it. Our nation lacks the beauty of respecting each other and growing together. Our selfishness has resulted in a downward spiral of moral and ethical decline.
We have been granted a splendid past and Islamic principles put a lot of weight on the growth of a nation’s character. It is time to reclaim our ethical, cultural and moral values to break free from our current level of decline in character. Protecting our culture and civilization is the first step towards strengthening the moral code of conduct of society. Acknowledging that our survival is in jeopardy is necessary. The family system needs to take on the task of teaching fundamental moral and ethical values. Educational institutions also play a cardinal role in this context. Rather than rushing through curriculum, schools, colleges and universities should emphasize character growth. We are living in an environment where brawn is favoured. It has disrupted the values that include good character. Our leaders, scholars and civil society need to play their part.
Our political parties can modify the national character by promoting the principles of impartiality, observance of the law, forbearance and interdependence. Through this process, we can ensure safety and security in our society and also build up individuals who will take our nation to greatness. A nation’s character should be held in high regard as it serves as protection. Without it, we will fall into subjugation and ruin. The Babylonian, Persian, Macedonian, Mongol, Greek and Roman civilizations all saw a decline in morality and character when the ruling group and the society relaxed their moral and ethical code. If societies keep moral codes in place for extended periods, they achieve the highest level of prosperity. Indeed, character growth produces individuals who become guardians and role models. We will further lose our invaluable moral values if we don’t take measures to guard our morality and character. Nevertheless, we must remember that if fail to respond timely, the history of the decline of nations owing to the weakness of their character will repeat itself.
—The writer is CSS Officer, based in Sargodha.
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