Being a man means doing what's right especially when it isn't easy

To the editor,

This letter is addressed to boys ages 6 to 12:

It has never been “easy” to change from being a “boy” to being a “man”. Over the history of America being a “man” meant three things.

TO RIDE

At age six, a boy should start to be physically well coordinated, to run, to jump, to climb a tree, so, that by age 12 doing these things will have become second nature. Getting to be as well coordinated physically is difficult to do. Becoming well coordinated requires a lot of seat and a lot of hours.

TO SHOOT STRAIGHT

At age six, a boy should start to be a ‘”straight shooter” not only in marksmanship with guns, but also in straight dealings with others, so that by age 12 these things will have become second nature to you. Consistently being a “straight shooter” is difficult to do.

TO BE TRUTHFUL

At age six, a boy should start to keep his promises, so that is it widely known “that your word is as good as your bond". To be responsible for every word you utter, to not originate falsehoods, but also in so far as you can, to not repeat falsehoods originated by others, so that by age 12 these things will have become second nature to you. Being truthful, at those times when it counts most, is difficult. It will be difficult all your life, because is it much easier (As one-time Member of Congress Tip O’Neil, wrote about his service in Congress, it is easier to “go along to get along”) than it is to say “stop the foolishness”, when one is all alone and no one else is there to help hold back the flood of misinformation.

For those who have never been favored with the above guidelines, just as one is never too old to have a happy childhood, no man is ever too old to start to live up to the best of his ability, to the above guidelines. None of these things have ever been easy, but then neither has “being a man”, ever been easy.

Then when you get to be a grandfather, your grandchildren will realize that their grandfather, at times when it was important, that their grandfather was a man. At that time, the good regard of your grandchildren will be more important to you than the Nobel Peace Prize, or election to political office, or any other honor that can be awarded to men.

Rep. Robert Kingsbury

Laconia