Steve Densley | Posted: Thursday, October 15, 2009 12:05 am
Recently I read of a change in the life of one of our local football players. He apparently made some poor choices, and his coach took action to return his focus to his personal honor and commitment. He had made this choice when he came to the university to play. This university has an honor code that all students are required to abide by. I know that young people make mistakes, but if they are held accountable for those mistakes rather than excusing them, they have a better opportunity to become the men and women they can become in life.
The idea of being responsible and living up to the honor of one's self and family is something that this world needs a great deal more of. Business owners need to establish a code of honor within their companies, employees and self to be able to win the trust of customers and other associates that may frequent their establishments. Business has taken a lot of hits in recent years for being untrustworthy and lacking honor. Our business heroes need to re-emerge across this nation and become the leaders that will keep this country strong and on course. Utah Valley has not escaped these issues.
I remember as a young boy my thoughts about attending the local university as opposed to others in the nation. When it came down to my choice, much of it was based on the fact that this school had an honor code and expected everyone to stand up to that measurement. I was also interested in both West Point and the Air Force Academy for what they stood for, but somehow in my mind, our local university stood out and that idea of a code of ethics came to the front in my choice. I was intrigued at being held to a higher standard. Was I always the poster child of honor in football and at the university? No, but I was always aware of my obligation to live up to the standards I had agreed to. It became a personal measurement of life.
I have always admired those organizations that have established a code of honor, even looking back to my youth with the Boy Scouts. Being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent established a goal to be attained. The idea of always being prepared in all circumstances and of doing good to all people stood out.
The current service organizations in our valley have codes of honor. The Rotary Club has a Four Way Test that all Rotarians should live by. Is it the truth, Is it fair to all concerned, Will it build goodwill and better friendships and will it be beneficial to all concerned. This is plain and simple management that brings to focus integrity in all situations.
I lived in Washington, D.C., for some time and ran across something called the Athenian Oath. It was an oath that every young man in Athens was required to take when he turned 17. It appeared as follows:
We will never bring disgrace on this our city by an act of dishonest or cowardice. We will fight for the ideals and Sacred Things of the City both alone and with many. We will revere and obey the city's laws, and do our best to incite a like reverence and respect in those who are prone to annul them or set them at naught. We will strive increasingly to quicken the public's sense of civic duty. Thus in all these ways we will transmit this city, not only not less, but greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.
I applaud those who reach for a higher standard of leadership and integrity. Our business community needs to reach higher as do our residents and families. We have such a great valley with great residents and a great quality of life. I applaud the local coach's choice to bring to focus within a young man's life those principles that were agreed to. Someday he will look back and appreciate being held to the honor code he agreed to.
• Steve Densley is president of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce.