Reformation of Manners II

William Wilberforce, by studying the root of social problems, thought that if the manners(morals) of England could be reformed, then crime, poverty and other problems would decline. Wilberforce went on to say,"...the true duty of every man is to promote the happiness of his fellow-creatures to the utmost of his power." Reread my blogs- Oct.19th and Aug. 24th. For "Sully" Sullenberger, "...it was his upbringing...his sense of integrity" that helped him safely land a US Airways plane on the Hudson River. The name of the book on him-"Highest Duty:My Search for what Really Matters." Samuel Johnson, English writer who helped set the stage for Wilberforce, thought that duties, not rights were at the core of ethics. "Almost all the miseries of life, almost all the wickedness that infects society, and almost all the distrsses that affect mankind, are the consequences of some defect in private duties. Likewise, all the joys of this world may be attributed to the happiness of hearth and home." What if ...couples/family/friends sat down for 30 mins. 4 times a week to enjoy a meal together- no answering phones or e-mails? What if...Richmond Mayer Jones, Virginia Governor McDonnell, and President Obama did the same? And what if ...we all invited a friend or adversary into our homes to discuss the issues of the day? That would be a Reformation of Manners for our times.