Ethics presentation for Concordia University

1. Lesley Roberts
Concordia University – Portland
September 8, 2015
Character Study in Body Ethics

2. Featured Personalities
First Lady Michelle
Obama
Whitney Houston

3. First Lady Michelle Obama
Biographical Information
First Lady Michelle Obama is married to the 44th
President of the United States, Barack Obama. She is the
mother of two daughters and is a driving force all her
own.
As First Lady, she has focused her attention on
current social issues surrounding children and families,
such as poverty, healthy living and education. As part of
her mission to continue to reach families about healthy
eating, Mrs. Obama has also published a book and has
appeared on many talk shows to highlight this important
issue.

4. First Lady Michelle Obama
Moral Qualities
The First Lady was able to foster change in the delivery of school
meals for children across the country in 2010. This change was brought
about by the signing of a bill titled the “Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.”.
The moral qualities I have chosen to highlight are her strong desire to care
for others, and her willingness to use her status and position in a positive
way for the good of others.
This care and concern regarding the health of our nations children
has led her to introduce legislation, publicly promote, and publish books
on this issue. Her views on childhood obesity and health can be found in
the following statement: "So make no mistake about it, for the past five
years, we have been addressing this issue from every angle. And taken
together, these changes are finally starting to have an impact. Childhood
obesity rates have finally stopped rising, and obesity rates are actually
falling among our youngest children. ... But let’s be clear: While the
progress we’ve made is impressive, it’s also incredibly fragile."
(Partnership for a Healthier America Summit, )

5. First Lady Michelle Obama
More information on the
First Lady Michelle
Obama, you can use the
following link:
www.whitehouse.gov/adm
inistration/first-lady-
michelle-obama

6. Singer and Actress Whitney Houston
Biographical Information
Singer/Actress Whiney Houston was found dead at
the age of 48 on February 11, 2012, after a long
battle with addiction. Ms. Houston was long
considered America’s sweetheart until she married
entertainer Bobby Brown and rumors of drug abuse
began to be floated by the media. A beautiful model
and gifted singer, Houston was photographed drunk
or high many times in the last years of her life.

7. Singer and Actress Whitney Houston
Moral Qualities
I believe that Ms. Houston probably could have
gotten help with her addiction many years before
she actually did if those around her had been
honest enough to recognize her issues. As she was
considered by many to be a pop princess, many
incidents and issues were hidden or denied. She
abused her body by allowing drugs and alcohol to
take over her life. In a conversation with Oprah
Winfrey, Houston is quoted as saying that “"I had so
much money and so much access to what I
wanted.” and "I didn't think about the singing part
anymore. I was looking for my young womanhood.”

8. Singer and Actress Whitney
Houston
For more information on
Whitney Houston, you can
use the following link:
http://www.whitneyhoust
on.com/us

9. Character Study in Body Ethics
Both of the ladies featured in this analysis are
considered to be intelligent, talented, beautiful
women at the top of their chosen fields. Due to
their choices, one is the wife of one of the most
important leaders of our time and the other is dead
due to the abuse of her body at an early age. One
career is a shining light for the health of our
children and the other is also a shining light, but of
ethical choices one should not make.

10. References
 Biography.com website.
http://www.biography.com/people/michelle-obama-
307592
 About.com. First Lady Michelle Obama: Quotes on
Child Obesity and Health.
http://familyfitness.about.com/od/motivation/a/michelle
_obama_quotes.htm
 http://ahealthieramerica.org/.
 http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/nutrition-
standards-school-meals
 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/61919
65/Whitney-Houston-confesses-to-Oprah-Winfrey-my-
drug-hell-on-crack-cocaine.html