When my four daughters were genuinely little girls, every milestone was a new source of joy and pride. Now that they are young women, there’s still great pride as they reach new stages of emancipation, but joy isn’t really the right word. To be honest, it feels more like sadness invoking all the clichés ever uttered about the bittersweet moments …
Character is Moral Strength
Character is the moral strength to do the right thing even when it costs more than you want to pay. –Michael Josephson
WORTH WATCHING: There are still some of you who have not seen daughter Aby’s really hilarious “webisode”. If you are one of them, check it out and if you don’t laugh out loud at least once let me know and will will give you a coupon for two free Tacos at Jack in the Box (I get them every time the Lakers win and keep their opponents under 100 points).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKopoTTd1wY
Memo From Michael: Thoughts on Coaching and Integrity
You’ve doubtless heard about the Rutgers University basketball coach, Mike Rice, who is shown on video in serial acts over two years abusing athletes and, quite simply, acting like a complete jerk. He was shown screaming homophobic slurs at his athletes, grabbing and pushing them and throwing basketballs at them from close range. The conduct was so over-the-top inappropriate that the discussion …
A Personal Note From Michael
It’s been an interesting and challenging couple of weeks with three major events taking place in my life: 1) I just returned from a 4-day trip to Hawaii. I was there to address the 4-H Western Regional Leadership Forum – about 300 staff, volunteer and student leaders of one of the oldest youth programs in the nation. 4-H has been …
Gratitude is a Happiness Strategy
Gratitude is a happiness strategy. Count the garden by the flowers, never by the leaves that fall. Count your life with smiles and not the tears that roll.
WORTH WATCHING: Sports and the Golden Rule
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=164274560391552
Memo From Michael: Remembering Dr. Jerry Buss
Last week, the sports world lost one of its giants. A man who made his imprint not only on his team and his sport, but on those who worked with him and for him. Jerry Buss, the people that knew him best called him Dr. Buss, died at the age of 80 leaving behind an army of admirers. Buss was not …
Memo From Michael: The Loss of Daddyhood
I’ve written extensively about my children. I have five of them: four teenage girls and a son approaching 40 (impossible to believe). I’ve written less about them lately for several reasons: 1) they are not quite as cute; 2) they say really clever things less often; 3) they are much less interested in spending time with me. And, the biggest …
COMMENTARY: The True Meaning of Love – Love Is Not A Mirage
If we can get beyond the corny red heart clichés and commercialism surrounding Valentine’s Day, there’s real value in celebrating the idea of love.
Great Leaders are Teachers
Great Leaders are teachers not tyrants. They help their followers see and understand more. They inspire them to become more and motivate them to do more. –Michael Josephson
WORTH READING: Four interesting letters with divergent opinions on homosexuality.
Letter 1 Of course every person must be loved and respected but not every behavior/lifestyle must be and it is important to separate these 2 things. The fact that homosexuals are sometimes bullied or hated is very sad and unfortunate and reflects how we as a society still struggle with the concept of loving the sinner (we are all sinners) …
WORTH WATCHING: Coming Out
Kayla Kearney, a senior at a Catholic high school. Kayla is a very talented and was a very popular girl who decided to come out in a speech to series of assemblies on Jan 13 and 14, 2011. (Kudos to the school for allowing her to do so.)
OBSERVATION: STIRRING THE POT MORE. The intensity of our belief that we are right does not convert our opinions into truth.
Reading the letters responding to my comments on gay rights I have found that many of the people who have expressed an opinion — whether for or against gay rights — exhibit the same tendency (one that I find very troubling) to demonize those with contrary views. I think it is just as bigoted of those who agree with my …
Memo From Michael: Take a Stand on Gay Rights
One thing I’ve learned in the 813 weeks I’ve been writing and posting these commentaries is that some people who love you (or at least say they do) can turn on a dime if you disagree with them on something fundamentally important to them. So I confess I think twice (or more) before I publish a commentary I know will …
COMMENTARY 813.5A: The Ethics of Gay Rights and Same-Sex Marriage
This is one of those commentaries that evokes passionate response and, sadly, a few people will disagree so strongly that they decide to cut me out of their lives by cancelling their subscription or putting me on the “block sender” list. I raise the issue once again because the Boy Scouts decision to defer action regarding their stance on openly …