McKinley's 13 virtues

1. Be Aggressive in achieving all goals that I have for myself.

2. Always be on time for everything that I am involved in.

3. Always give my best in everything I do.

4. Be aware of my surroundings.

5. Follow my own moral code always.

6. Be kind and generous to all.

7. Be intelligent at all times.

8. Be curious about the world and how it works.

9. Remind myself of what my ultimate goals are when I waiver in my dedication.

10. Treat my friends and family with love, honor, dedication, respect, and loyalty.

11. Help those who are in need of my assistance.

12. Fight injustice wherever it may be.

13. Believe in myself at all times.

While I feel that if I firmly followed these guidelines I would be a much better, and more efficient McKinley, I do not think that it would allow me to attain "moral perfection".

Moral perfection is a bogus term. It cannot be achieved by a human being; as we are all endowed with flaws (or original sin as Christendom calls it), we are almost always in some way shape or form going to be at odds with something that is just and be supporting something that is ultimately not helping with the moral state of our world.

I strive every day to live by my own code of ethics that are based in an imperfect reality and also in ideals of goodness which do have to be compromised to some extent (no matter how small) in order to function in the world. I believe that as a result of this, the closest you can get to moral perfection is to recognize that you are a morally flawed person (as is everyone) and always try to improve your life and the lives of others.

Despite the fact that, as I said, we live in an imperfect world. We cannot let it get us down and cause us to slip into immorality. Life is full of tests, and the world itself is a test of the resolve of the human mind, body, and spirit to stay true through the all the struggles the world faces you with. Nihilism is the root of all decadence and evil. One must never slip into nihilism.

Simultaneously, one must never slip into a world of pure idealism. If you have your head in the clouds all the time then you are not helping your fellow human being, yourself, or your world.

These two dangers are on opposite extremes in some respects, and are very closely related in others. They should both be fought at all times.