Building a Nation's Character

Character Development

Self-discipline is essential in any effort to build and shape the character of a person, an organization, and a community of nations. For in relation to a person-character implies (1) a positive quality of a person, so make it interesting and attractive, (2) a person's reputation, and (3) a person who has a personality that is unusual or eccentric. The root of the word "character" can be traced from the Latin word "kharakter", "kharassein", and "kharax", which means "tools for marking", "to Engrave", and "pointed stake". This term is more often used (again) in French "Caractere" in the 14th century and later entered the English language to "character", before finally being Indonesian "character". In Poerwadarminta Dictionary, character is defined as a character; temperament; psychological traits, morals or manners that distinguish one person than another. With the definition above we can say that build character (character building) is the process of carving or sculpting soul in such a way that "shaped" unique, interesting, and different or can be distinguished from others. Like a letter in the alphabet that was never equal to one another, so the people of character can be distinguished from one another (including those that do not / have not been characterized or "characteristic" deplorable). On the formation of this character may be mentioned a big name: Helen Keller (1880-1968). This amazing woman-she became blind and deaf at the age of 19 months, but thanks to the help of his family and the guidance Annie Sullivan (who is also blind, and after a series of operations can finally see a limited basis) and then became the first deaf-blind man who graduated cum laude from Radcliffe College in 1904 - once said, "Character can not be develop in ease and quite. Only through experience of trial and Suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success Achieved. " That sentence probably sums up his life story very inspirational. Through a long struggle and persistence are difficult to beat, he then became one of the great heroes of American history who received numerous awards nationally and internationally for his accomplishments and dedication (see homepage www.hki.org). Helen Keller is a model of the human character (commendable). And his history demonstrates how the process of building a character that requires discipline because it is never easy and immediate or instant. Deep reflection necessary to make a series of moral choice (moral judgments) and followed up with concrete action so that it becomes praxis, reflection, and practice. Needed some time to make those custom (habit) and form the character or nature of a person (Andrias, 2006).

Source :  http://blog.uny.ac.id/iisprasetyo/2010/06/05/peran-homeschooling-dalam-membangun-karakter-bangsa-homeschooling-role-in-nation-character-building/  I have translated into English.