Wed 16 Nov 2005
Things always have a funny way of lining up for me on a theme. The theme this week for me was “character.” I’d said a few times to a few people in the last couple days that someone may look good on paper, but his character almost killed me. And then there may be someone whose “dating resume” doesn’t look good on paper, but I’d never been so comfortable or happy. And then out of nowhere, the plaintiff’s attorney throws this into his closing argument right now on a car accident case:
“I don’t have time to talk about character very long but I will just mention a book that I read about ten years ago. There is a book on who to marry. What kind of person should you marry, should you marry somebody beautiful? Should you marry somebody tall, dark and handsome? Whom should you marry, somebody rich? Should you marry somebody who has all the hobbies you have? The book says don’t look after any of those issues, those are false. The issues you need to look at in the person you’re going to marry are honesty, if they treat you well, if they are hardworking, if they are religious. And if they’re loyal. Because the person you want to marry is the woman that you want who will stay you for 30 years if you become disabled. Or if you’re a girl you want a man that will stay with you for 30 years if you become disabled. All these other issues are not good. You can get a guy that’s tall dark and handsome and he can cheat on you every day and lie to you and be a drunkard and go gambling every day and leave you for another woman at the first chance he gets.
So character is very important in life.”
My court reporter turned to me and winked.
Speaking about resume..makes me think about job interviews. Same concept applies there too. Someone looks competent from their resume may not be so, leave alone about his/her personality and character (ie nice to work with).
But their true side(s) will reveal as time goes by. To me, character comes first than others.
yeah, I was caught up in what my parents brainwashed me to think was important. well, they only want the best for me.
everybody knows that being technically savvy is the most highly sought after quality that one can find in a person.
“are they hot? are they tall? are they rich? who cares!! they know how to make my internet work!”
i hear it ALL the time from the girls.
…
ummm, and then i wake up and sob myself back to sleep.
Wait, I’ve said the above quote almost exactly. Seriously! (I know, I’m so shallow.)
Ah, so true so true. Great post. I’m not too big on the religious thing myself though. Definitely a touchy subject, so I won’t go into detail.
well, I think it’s important that someone be on the same page re religion with the fiance. I don’t think you have to be religious, but it doesn’t work if one is orthodox and the other is headstrong athiest. Cuz then there’d be major child-rearing issues or lifestyle issues in the marriage.