Where Has All the Respect for: Ideas, Institutions, and Individuals Gone?

The letter below was written last year around this time when OUR DULY ELECTED PRESIDENT spoke to students about their personal responsibilities as citizens at this juncture of their respective lives. I reluctantly decided not to submit it.   Thinking, well it is an issue that will simply fade away. Wrong, in fact it has been exacerbated by the often misinterpreted message of the Tea Party movement engulfing our nation by SOME on the RIGHT AND LEFT.  To summarily dismiss that movement’s viewpoint is just as inappropriate as what is transpiring in this situation. Since when in American history has a President of these United States had his speech to our Nation’s children required parental permission slips? Did any of our past Presidents such as FDR, Ronal Reagan and George Bush get this treatment when they spoke to the nation during the school day? Did Laura Bush? You all know the answer. Tell me what is so treasonous in the following words of our duly elected President, that our children cannot hear them? “Your future is in your hands. Your life is what you make of it. And nothing — absolutely nothing — is beyond your reach. So long as you're willing to dream big. So long as you're willing to work hard. So long as you're willing to stay focused on your education. Here's your job: showing up to school on time, paying attention in class, doing your homework, studying for exams, staying out of trouble." President Obama also says. "That kind of discipline and drive — that kind of hard work — is absolutely essential for success." I would respectfully submit the words written below for your thoughtful consideration!

I have wrestled with whether or not I should write this letter and have it published; much in the same way as the day on which as a High School Principal; I was faced with the panic surrounding our first President Bush’s announcement of the first Middle East War.  At that time I was an active educator. I am retired now and have been able to enjoy the absences of the public aspects that my previous profession demanded!  I know for some of you, who read this letter, you will summarily dismiss it out-of-hand.  For some, it will be construed as an effort to change your mind on an issue you do not happen to concur with!  For some, it will be the rantings of another Liberal Educator; which, by the way, for those who know me can clearly attest is the absolute opposite of who I am and what I believe in.  

As an immigrant to this country, I have always espoused the greatness of this nation and have frequently said, “Only in America can a first generation immigrant have been blessed with the great opportunities and prosperities this nation offers.”  My three children are the children of a first generation immigrant and have been given the opportunity to be a Medical Doctor, a Principal finishing her Doctorate and Superintendent’s Letter, and a successful MH/MR case worker.  Make no mistake; only in America could this have been possible.  Others will say, why don’t I just stay silent?  The answer to that will hopefully come as you read the remainder of this letter.  I only ask that you think about the topic as I discuss it.

I heard the rumblings around the President’s recent speech to school students.  I have spoken to school people in order to determine what the real issue was and how they had decided to deal with the controversy that has essentially had terms such as outrage, tempest, furor, or brainwashing thrown at it.  As a student of history and government, I was taken aback by the very vitriolic nature of the discourse around the President’s speech.  What could he possibly say that could engender such anger and in my mind “disrespect for the Office of President of the United States”?  What really struck me is how so many people could be angered at a speech they hadn’t even heard yet!  So I went on the web and read the text of the speech and the related lesson plans; which frankly gave me even greater concern as to what was really at play here!  As an educator, I always told students and faculty this: “LEARNING INVOLVES THE ACQUISTION OF KNOWLEDGE AND AN OPENESS TO IDEAS THAT CHALLENGE THE COMTEMPORAY THINKING.”  How does one do that if they will not even allow those ideas to be heard? 

The goal is not necessarily to change your beliefs, though you should be willing to do so if swayed by a persuasive argument, but to develop the intellectual and analytical skills to know why you believe what you believe.  In other words, it is not enough just to have the courage of your convictions, it is essential to understand the reasoning behind your convictions.  The only way you can do that effectively is to listen to those with whom you have disagreement.  By being an active participant in the clash of ideas (that is listening as well as speaking), you will enhance the prospects of uncovering the truth.  Does this advice pertain to school age children?  I believe so!

As parents, my wife and I both struggled at times with many things that our children were exposed to. Often times there were things that we did not necessarily agree with. What we learned over time was that our children had two things going for them that we often underestimated greatly.   1. They had a home where the exchange of ideas could be entertained, which permitted them to put divergent ideas into perspective.  This does not necessarily always mean thinking the same way as Mom and Pop.   2. They were not as naïve as perhaps we initially thought, and I suspect that is the way it is in many other households in this country.  Perhaps they may not have become as jaded as many of us older and more wise adults were, but that is the very essence of great societies.  It was up to them to keep reminding us jaded adults of Bob Kennedy’s statement:  “Some men see things as they are and say, “Why?” I dream things that never were and say, “Why not?”   “Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

It is this very youthful Idealism that comes with youth that moves our society and nation forward.  To restrain it is self defeating and stifling!

It gives me great pause and concern that in this nation today we have become so polarized that many parents are saying to their kids, and indeed the rest of us, that “I don’t want my child to listen to something or someone that I might disagree with even when I do not even know what they are going to say.”   It is not only futile, it is depriving those parents an opportunity to model civil debate, to discuss important issues with their children, re-enforcing what they believe and why.  Helping their children to be independent thinkers; that which is the most basic aspect of an educated person!   Is it perhaps that this is precisely what many adults fear the most?  Many of you who have adult children, as I and my wife do, have learned that this process is as irreversible as nature itself.  It is children who are never taught to think for themselves that are most susceptible to brainwashing.  In the years to come, we will as citizens disagree on many issues.  Should we not be providing our children with the understanding that it is okay to hear divergent ideas, so they can evaluate them and then come to good decisions?  

I mentioned earlier that after hearing about the furor I had sought out and read the text of President Obama’s speech and the lesson plans - Wow: “Stay in School.” “Pay attention to teachers.” Listen to your parents, grandparents, other adults.”  “ Work hard in order to succeed.” “Take responsibility for yourself.” "No matter what grade you're in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer and you could've stayed in bed just a little bit longer this morning.” "Every single one of you has something that you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer.” “And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is." "No matter what you want to do with your life.  I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it. . . . You cannot drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You've got to train for it and work for it and learn for it." "We need every single one of you to develop your talents and your skills and your intellect so you can help us old folks solve our most difficult problems.” "There is no excuse for not trying.” "But whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.” "Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you, because here in America, you write your own destiny."…. Is this what the furor was about?  These ideas are as basic a set of conservative ideals as can be uttered!  It would be great to hear the debates around kitchen tables of those who thought their kids should be protected from such ideas!

 Another key aspect of this issue that I would like to discuss is how sad we should all be as a society for the lack of basic respect we have for our elected leaders, be they School Board Members, Congressmen, Senators or even Presidents of the United States (like him or hate him).  This must be highlighted by the absolutely blatant exhibition of disrespect demonstrated on National TV for all of our children to see by Congressmen Wilson.  This would have been a great opportunity for parents to sit down with their children and engage them in a conversation on the ethics of Civil Discourse.   As I frequently discussed with parents and students in order for organizations to maintain order and keep us all safe and secure it is essential that we maintain dignity and respect for an office or position while perhaps not at all caring for the individual person that holds it. WHAT HAVE WE COME TO IN THIS COUNTRY WHEN WE DON'T GIVE THE RESPECT TO THAT OFFICE?!  

The issue is larger than any man or woman.  IT IS THE FUNCTIONING OF OUR SOCIETY THAT IS AT RISK WHEN WE CANNOT EVEN ALLOW CHILDREN TO HEAR THE WORDS OF THE MAN WE ELECTED TO THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE LAND.  We often wonder why our children don’t respect our institutions, authority figures and their Elders {Ourselves}. We need only look in the mirror.  Where have they learned this type of behavior?  WE HAVE TAUGHT THEM THEY CAN PICK AND CHOOSE TO RESPECT AND DISRESPECT ANYONE IRRESPECTIVE OF HIS OR HER OFFICE!  WE AS A SOCIETY SHOULD BE VERY CONCERNED, NOT MERELY ABOUT THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT, BUT THE NOTION OF ORDER IN AN ALREADY CHAOTIC WORLD! THE NEXT TIME A CHILD TELLS A PARENT THEY DON'T RESPECT THEM, THEIR TEACHERS, OR THE POLICE WE NEED ONLY LOOK IN THE MIRROR. WE REAP WHAT WE SOW! THE ESSENCE OF THIS SOCIETY HAS BEEN ITS WILLINGNESS, ALBEIT SOMETIMES RELUCTANTLY, TO HEAR THE VOICES OF DISSENT.  When a President is trying to encourage kids to work hard becomes un-American, it is sad and tragic!! The funny thing is that these parents who prohibit their children from anything they feel is potentially harmful (politically speaking) will probably have the opposite effect on them. Your kids are only under your control for so long, and then they start thinking for themselves. OMG, the horror!!!!!

In conclusion, I must return to asking myself this basic question “WHAT IS REALLY AT PLAY HERE?” As difficult as it may be, we must ask ourselves - how much of this outcry against this President is RACIALLY MOTIVATED?  What if his name were more Americanized such as these: George, Ronald, Glen, Bill, Newt or John.  Would we be witnessing the same level of indignation?  I hope and pray for all of our sakes that the better angels within us have cast that kind of thinking aside!