Some people believe that doing their Duty is following directions or adhering to a job description. But actually, having a great sense of Duty, goes beyond those things. President George W. Bush and his predecessors had a different view of their Duty at Christmas than our last two presidents. Read about that here in 500 words or less….

Anderson’s 12 Word or Less Definition of Duty

Taking action based on our assigned tasks and moral obligations.

Great Duty

Whenever a president travels, he is never alone. When the president is away from the White House hundreds of personnel including White House staff, secret service, and press reporters are assigned to be on those flights and staying in hotels away from home and away from their families.

At Christmas those requirements do not change. That is why President George W. Bush never traveled over Christmas during his eight years in office.

President Bush spent his Christmas holidays 60 miles from Washington D.C. at Camp David. Why? So his staff, the secret service, and the reporters assigned to him, could wake up in their own beds on Christmas morning and be with their families.

In fact, President Clinton, the elder President Bush, and President Reagan all spent Christmas at Camp David or the White House for the exact same reason as George W. Bush.  They felt like it was their moral obligation to do that for those families.

Contrast that with recent history. For eight years of his presidency, President Obama spent Christmas in Hawaii. This past Christmas, President Trump spent Christmas in Florida. As a result, hundreds of families were seperated on Christmas morning.

For the past 9 years, it has been the Duty of all those support personnel to spend their Christmas holidays, away from their families. It’s part of their assigned tasks.  They really have no choice. 

The president can make a choice though. The president deserves a break at Christmas. The demands of being president are extraordinary. However, how much more extraordinary is the great sense of Duty President George W. Bush and his predeccessors?

The Bottom Line:

The choices of those past presidents demonstrated that they believed it was their moral obligation to stay close to Washington D.C. for the sake of hundreds of others who always served them.

When anyone exercises Duty, they often exercise the habits of Humility and Selflessness as well.

Andersons’ 12 Word or less Definition of Humility

Believing and acting like “It’s not about me.”

Andersons’ 12 Word or less Definition of Selflessness

Putting the needs of others before my own needs, desires, and convenience.

Were these presidents alway humble or selfless? I doubt it. But that choice to not travel over Christmas exercised Humility and Selflessness. The more we exercise a muscle, the stronger it gets. With each #CharacterRep, we build our character.

Question:

What moral obligations will you face this week?

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