Postcards From Myself

Can someone explain to me how anyone in this country, right or left, would not want their child listening to an address by the President. I really don’t care which I way lean, if the President is making a speech, especially to children regarding education, I would love for my kids to hear it. It can be by Bush or by Obama, by Reagan or by Clinton. These are important people, arguably the most important single individuals in our country, so why would I not want my children to hear them speak?

Some say that in his upcoming speech to our schools President Obama will try to push his leftist agenda. Well first of all, that is kind of narrow minded. But even more importantly, why would any parent be so afraid that one speech on a television by a distant individual is going to undo all of the teachings they have done with their child. Perhaps they are afraid their kid will learn the truth? Perhaps they are afraid that they haven’t had such a great influence on their child up to this point? Perhaps they haven’t watched the horrible role models their children are glued to TV every afternoon and evening?

When I hear the hatred and fear being spewed out of some of these parent’s mouths, I realize that our educational and religious systems really have failed some people. Only pure ignorance, stupidity and bigotry could fuel such comments. I am left in pure sad wonder at these events. And with that, more than anything else, I fear for the future of this great country.

It is getting to be the holiday season. I have to admit, this is my favorite time of year. I love the weather, I love the mood, and I love the food. (Especially pumpkin pancakes and muffins, but that is a different post.) But, I am also a bit melancholy during all the celebrations. Remember in A Christmas Carol when the Ghost of Christmas Present pulls aside his gown to reveal the two horrifying children? That is me.

I have always identified with The Ghost of Christmas Present. If I have one true career goal in life, it is to be him. From the size to the dress to the mannerism, he is who I want to be. But just as he hides the two children symbolizing Want and Ignorance, I hold these concerns within my heart as I go through the season.

The one I am worrying about today, and many of us are worrying about due to the recent financial crisis, is Want. While I and my friends may cut back because money is a bit tight, there exists true poverty in this world. While I worry about paying over $3.00 for a gallon of gas, there are people with no shoes to walk. While you worry about not being able to go to Starbucks every morning, there are children who go days with no meals or clean water. Why I worry about my children’s college and field trips and Christmas presents, there are parent out there wonder which of their children to let die because they can’t feed or take care of them both.

Remember this from the interchange between Scrooge and Jacob Marley:
Ebenezer: But it was only that you were an honest man of business!
Jacob Marley: BUSINESS? Mankind was my business! Their common welfare was my business!

It is those thoughts that travel with me, and should travel with you, during this season and the rest of the year. We are deluding ourselves if we think there can ever be world peace or stability while there is still so much poverty in the world. And can, or should, any of us truly have inner peace and stability while no that those two children sheltered by the Ghost of Christmas Present have not been attended to?