THE ISSUE: Community of Character

OUR OPINION: Generosity in November is prelude to December

GENEROSITY!

GENEROSITY!

GENEROSITY is the November trait for the Orangeburg County Community of Character campaign.

Tis’ the month for Thanksgiving. December’s Holidays (HOLY DAYS) such as Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are just a short time away. Glory! Glory!

And that’s what generosity entails -- being liberal, decent, unselfish, open-handed, open-hearted. The world loves a cheerful giver.

Don’t grudge. Be gracious, Give freely, unstintingly, selflessly, unsparingly, with a big heart, bountifully, freely. Go out of your way. Now’s the time for liberality, milk and honey, full measure, openness, “keep the change,” don’t stint, “give with both hands,” open your heart, be hospitable, neighborly, even little things mean a lot, it’s the thoughtfulness, “She doesn’t have a selfish bone in her body,” high-mindedness.

It’s the Golden Rule, folks. It’s that time of year. “Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.” “It’s better to give than to receive.”

Concentrate on teaching all about the upcoming holiday season and the reason behind it all to the children. Let this be a time of love and learning for them. Teach them to put themselves in the place of the poor and needful. Let them deliver gifts themselves as you stand by in support.

Generosity brings along with it love and outreach that can stay and support you the rest of your life!

“He is generous, valiant, just and wise.

And so continues ‘til he dies. (Herbert)

“If there be any truer measure of a man than what he does, it must be by what he gives. (Shakespeare)

Be extra kind in November and that means being GENEROUS, GENEROUS, GENEROUS!

Community of Character

It was in 2000 that the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce partnered with the Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association, the Orangeburg County Development Commission and The Times and Democrat in the effort to build a “Community of Character.”

The initiative was based on a similar program in the city of Aiken. In Orangeburg County, however, there was the ambitious approach of going countywide with a focus on building positive character traits among citizens. It worked, with all of the county’s municipalities signing on in support.

Because character education is a fast-growing movement in schools and communities, Orangeburg County’s efforts also have received statewide recognition in the form of resolutions from former Gov. Jim Hodges and Gov. Mark Sanford. In September 2005, Orangeburg County was host for the first statewide Community of Character Conference, an event at which people from other locales came together here to learn more about the local effort and assist it.

The goal of enhancing the quality of life by teaching basic virtues and ideals, such as the importance of honesty, dedication and the Golden Rule, continues to be worthwhile here, around South Carolina and everywhere.

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