The Reflection in Our Actions #12
Exploring True Character Beyond the Surface
What does it mean to be a good person?
Introduction: When Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Have you ever noticed how often someone says that someone who has committed a horrible act is a good person? Usually, they give an example of a good act to validate their statement.
What's missing here is the distinction between an act and a person's character. Our behavior is a mirror of our real character.
The Incident: A Mirror to Our Character
Recently, I read an article and watched a video clip of a Wyoming man named Cody Roberts. On February 29, 2024, Cody deliberately ran over a wolf pup with this snowmobile multiple times and then brought the injured wolf pup into the Green River Bar in Daniel, Wyoming, wearing a shock collar and tape around its muzzle, boasting about his "catch." In the video, he taunts and kisses the seriously injured wolf pup while others in the bar laugh and carry on. He proudly has his picture taken with a beer in one hand, and the wolf in the other. The wolf was left on the floor for hours to suffer. Mr. Roberts later took the wolf out back and beat it with a baseball bat before shooting it dead. He was fined $250 for his actions.
Of course, there has been outrage, and there have been supporters.
His supporters have said, "Cody is a good man," while giving examples of good things he has done. There have also been calls for harsher penalties and death threats as well.
His behavior and the pictures in the bar made me furious. I initially wanted to do the same thing to Mr. Roberts—behavior, which would reduce me to his level of cruelty. The fact that no one stood up to Mr Roberts in the bar had me thinking deeply about our propensity for indifference. This cruelty and indifference has been repeated often on a mass scale globally with humans and animals alike and continues today. Indifference seems to be escalating!
This act, performed with apparent disregard for the suffering inflicted, compels us to examine the man and society that shapes such men. What does it say about us when such actions emerge amongst us? Are these isolated acts, or do they reflect a deeper malaise within our collective ethos?
As we delve into this discussion, let's unravel the threads that differentiate mere acts of goodness from the foundational bedrock of true character.
Unpacking the Layers: Good Acts vs. Good Character
Good Acts: Temporary Lights on a Dark Path
Good acts are often spontaneous, visible moments of kindness that brighten the lives of others. However, they can also be performative, transient flashes illuminating the surface while leaving the depths unexplored. How often do we applaud the public giver who privately neglects the weak and vulnerable?
Good Person: The Facade We Admire
Society often labels individuals as "good" based on their most visible behaviors. But is this label durable enough to cover up the cracks when private actions belie public personas? The phrase "he's usually a good person" is frequently used as a shield, deflecting deeper scrutiny. But should it be?
Good Character: The Core of Our Being
True character is not the sum of what we do publicly but who we are in the darkest moments and the most challenging choices. It is about consistency, integrity, and a principled stand that remains consistent with the audience's size and stakes. True character is what you do when no one else is looking and when others are behaving poorly.
Cody Roberts: A Case Study in Character
His family's defense of Cody Roberts, framing him as "typically a good person," starkly contrasts with his actions toward a defenseless animal. This raises a crucial question: Can one truly be considered a good person if their actions cause deliberate harm? This scenario challenges us to consider the possibility of a facade maintained by occasional good deeds, masking a lack of deep moral conviction.
Everyday Ethics: The Small Choices That Define Us
Let's turn the lens on ourselves. Consider the last time you faced a choice where doing right was more challenging than looking away:
Have you ever chosen the easier wrong over the harder right?
What do your choices in privacy say about your character?
These questions aren't just rhetorical. They are invitations to introspection of our actions and how they align with our deepest values.
Taking Responsibility: The Hallmark of Moral Strength
A person of deep character does not hide behind excuses or societal labels when confronted with their mistakes. They own their actions, seek forgiveness, and strive to make amends. True character involves recognizing when we have failed and taking steps to rectify those failures. How do we respond when we stumble? Do we justify, or do we apologize and learn?
Conclusion: Building a Legacy of Character
As we reflect on Cody Roberts's chilling actions and their broader implications for our society, let us use this moment as a catalyst for deeper self-examination. Are we content to perform good acts, or are we committed to truly being good? Are we indifferent in the face of suffering and torture? Let us not just live but live fully alive with purpose, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the values that elevate us as individuals and as a society.
Let this discussion be a starting point for a journey towards genuine goodness, rooted not in what others see but in who we are when no one is watching. After all, isn't the actual test of our character not how we handle the easy moments but how we navigate the challenging ones?