It’s four years, people, one character trait each month, four years of controlling your minds to adhere to the radical religious teachings of Bill Gothard, because that is what this program is based on. For all that is wrong with the internet, it is often the only place that truth can be found. Check out these web sites: www.liberty1st.org and the forum discussions at www.threeriversmi.org.

The Character First program was passed by the Three Rivers City Commission with a vote of 6 to 1, with hardly anyone in the city knowing what the program was all about. Good character sounds like something we would all want to promote, so it is hard to speak out against it. Grant money was authorized before the program was even passed. Joe Bippus, our city manager hosted a one sided presentation before the city commission on October 16th, 2001. I was there; I have a tape of the program. I had the front row all to myself during the Character First portion of the meeting. There was one person in the row behind me; others were scattered throughout the rest of the chamber. There were a lot of empty seats in a chamber that holds about sixty. According to Marilyn Miholer and Lynn Gardner from the Three Rivers Commercial News, there was overwhelming support from local residents. I don’t consider 16 speakers, only 6 who actually live in Three Rivers as overwhelming support. I have also read that numerous public meetings were held prior to the vote, yet they must not have been well advertised, as I never heard of them. Yes, there is controversy now, and I’m sorry we didn’t have all the information prior to the vote, but aren’t we, as Americans encouraged to dig deeper into any program that will affect our families for the rest of our lives?

Marilyn Miholer in her news article, Character Trait Program Can Make a Difference, Hometown Gazette South, March 25th, stated. “ I see people of good will trying to make Three Rivers a better place by having a dialogue about positive values which can be incorporated into our daily lives.” This is a dialog only among the people administering the program, your boss, your minister, your club president. I guess these people are the TEACHERS: imparting wisdom, maturity and skills to others. If you are on the receiving end, you are to maintain a good attitude JOYFULNESS vs. SELF-PITY, even when faced with unpleasant conditions. I am to learn ’MEEKNESS’, yielding my personal rights and expectations with a desire to serve. A desire to serve whom? I guess my boss, minister or club president. If your boss decides to implement this program and you do not joyfully accept the character trait being taught each month, will you keep your job? It is easy for people who are retired, or in a management position to think this program is wonderful. They will never be forced to listen to and joyfully take part in learning a new character trait each month for four years.

Marilyn stated ’There is no hidden agenda or ulterior motives that I can see.” The hidden agenda is the fact that this is a religious based program based on the teachings of Bill Gothard. The people promoting this program seem to think that Gothard’s intrepretations are better than the Bible itself. In other words, God’s book is OK, but Bill Gothard has a better plan. If our city commissioners so strongly believe in the religious teachings of Bill Gothard, that is fine, but it does not give them the right to force feed their beliefs on the rest of us. I much prefer the values and character traits taught at the church I attend.