The Birth of Spin

It is difficult to envision the early decades of correspondence of American political communication, when communication relied on newspapers, letters that took days to deliver, and word of mouth.  Not only was delivery difficult and slow, but accuracy would also have been challenging, even for those acting in good faith.  As access and timeliness of correspondence improved, the challenge of bias or slant of information continued, whether only an effort to create a favorable impression or deliberate efforts to shade information were involved.  As the saying goes, "Everyone is entitled to his own opinion but not to his own facts."  Yet, the challenge of determining the accuracy of what we are told has existed for as long as humans learned how to communicate.

From long ago, the Owl has been a symbol of wisdom and truth, perhaps because of its ability to see in the dark. The need for truth and the challenge of discerning truth is as old as time, long before our nation existed.  Our nation's privilege of freedom of speech makes the importance even more essential that we honor that privilege.  However, it has never been entirely honored.  

Perhaps the 1980s were a professional turning point for the "art" of spin, with a gradual naming of the abuses: publicity, ballyhoo, propaganda, messaging, framing, strategic communication, bias.  The practice became so accepted that "spin rooms" to meet with reporters after news events to tweak the content became common.

Among the earlier efforts to combat misinformation were the Muckrakers, sometimes as outrageous in their attacks as those committing the falsehoods the Muckrakers exposed.  However, there were examples of investigations and disclosures by the Muckrakers that benefitted the public.  Perhaps the best example was Sinclair Lewis, and his book, The Jungle, that exposed the disgraceful and dangerous greed and abuse of the Chicago meatpackers. 

Presidents in particular struggled with communicating with the press.  President Wilson established the Committee on Public Information as a war time information bureau.  Franklin Roosevelt was particularly successful with his Fireside Chats.  On the other hand, radio also provided the abusive access for those who would spread prejudiced and false information, such as the broadcasts of Father Charles Coughlin and Huey Long.

The power of radio quickly diminished as television arrived.  One clever example was Ronald Reagan's dismissal of his age with a joke, telling his opponent, Mondale, that he would "not hold his youth and inexperience against him."  Not all presidents have been as skilled in using media, but they all recognize the importance of using it effectively. 

The media has tried to confront the spin, identifying outright falsehoods with fact checking, but it   proved less effective than might have been hoped.  Americans began to distrust the media.  Many sought news they found more agreeable.  The internet offered alternative sources, but checks on accuracy were often lacking.  Reporters, with rules that guided their responsibilities for accuracy, found themselves being replaced by commentators, who express opinions rather than unbiased facts.  

Gradually, the professional responsibility for those who bring us the news or host sources where information can be posted have become less vigilant, and recently Face Book has announced that they will no longer protect against misinformation by fact checking, leaving it up to individuals to recognize inaccuracies and intentional misrepresentation.  

The sad truth is that all of us prefer to hear what we want to hear, but for Americans to be entrusted with wise judgement, for themselves and their families, as well as for our freedom of speech, and informed votes, we must have access to the information we need.  As Roman poet Juvenal wrote, "Who will guard the guards themselves?  Who will watch the watchmen?" 

America's Inauguration Traditions

 

The Constitution is very limited in establishing traditional guidelines for the inauguration, saying only that there should be a taking of an oath. President Washington started the tradition of the Inaugural Address.  James and Dolly Madison started the tradition of a reception and an inaugural ball. Thomas Jefferson's second inauguration began the tradition of an open house at the executive mansion, but that tradition ended as a result of over eager crowds destructively overwhelming the White House. 

There are a variety of firsts resulting from advancement in technology. James Buchanan was the first to be photographed, William McKinley was the first in a movie, Calvin Coolidge the first on the radio, Harry Truman the first televised, and Bill Clinton the first to be live on the internet.

 Donald Trump's absence at the swearing in of Biden was the first to decline attendance since Andrew Johnson declined to attend Ulysses S. Grant's inauguration, but four other presidents had declined before him:  John Adams, John Quency Adams, Martin Van Buren, and Andrew Johnson. Two other absences from the full participation were Woodrow Willson because of health and Richard Nixon because of his resignation. It is not a mandate, although most outgoing presidents have chosen to attend.   

The Constitutional omission of defining guidelines for the inauguration has provided the opportunity for presidents to introduce personality into the ceremony.  Only 4 presidents have included poetry.  Kennedy was first, with Robert Frost.  Clinton invited poets to both inaugurations, Miller Williams first and Maya Angelou to the second inauguration.  Obama invited Richard Blanco and Elizabeth Alexander.  Biden invited Amanda Gorman.  These excerpts seemed particularly relevant today:  "Who were many people coming together cannot become one people falling apart."  Miller Williams.  "More Kindness, dear Lord of the renewing.  That is where it all had to start."  James Dickey.  "History, despite its wrenching pain cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again."  Maya Angelou.  

Music has also had a place in inaugurations.  Marian Anderson sang for two presidents--Eisenhower and Kennedy.  Jimmy Carter is well known for his love of music of all kinds, and that was apparent at his inauguration when he included Willie Nelson's 'Crazy' sung by Linda Ronstadt, Irving Berlin's 'God Bless America' sung by Aretha Franklin, and 'Take Care of this House' by Leonard Bernstein.   Biden also selected a range of musicians for his inauguration, with Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Garth Brooks.  Republicans have also rocked the inaugurations with George W. Bush bringing Livin' la Vida Loca, and Reagan bringing the Beach Boys.  

Much has changed since George Washington swore his oath in New York City, planned for March 4, 1789 but delayed until April 6, 1789 because harsh weather delayed the congressmen traveling to count the votes.  Then, as today, there may be some bumps in the road leading up to our inaugurations, but our system has held.  May the wisdom of the founding fathers and the character of those whom we have elected honor, protect and defend the constitution as they have sworn to do.  As Ronald Reagan said, may our nation be "the shining city upon a hill...teeming with people of all kinds, living in harmony and peace."  

        

In memory of President Jimmy Carter

 

When Jimmy Carter was elected President of the United States, I was an attorney at the Veterans Administration in Waco, Texas.  At that time, there was a man employed there who looked so much like Jimmy Carter that he should have taken a leave of absence for four years to impersonate the President.  He was from Texas, and although he did not have the same sweet southern accent that the President had, his Texas southern accent would have given him a head start over the other impersonators from the North who tried and failed to master the President's genuine smooth Georgia accent.  

My husband and I happened to be in New Orleans when Jimmy Carter was there campaigning for the presidency, and we joined the crowd around him, at least getting close enough to catch one of the peanuts he threw to the crowd.  I suppose we still have that peanut somewhere, unless we forgot it's value as having come from the hand of the future president. 

Notice the competing Republican posters in both photographs, brought to counter Carter's rally. 

Like others, I may have been disappointed by Carter's lack of grandeur in the office of the Presidency.  He really wasn't much for the pomp and circumstances of the office.  The truth is, we Americans seem to like a bit of grandeur surrounding our presidents, even if they are not kings.

He was not extremely popular during his presidency, often criticized as trying to do too much himself, rather than benefitting from participation of others with particular credentials on the many responsibilities of the presidency, which could have assisted the president in making his decisions.  

Not only was he an untraditional president, but his wife Rosalynn was also a unique first lady.  At the presidential inauguration balls, she wore a gown she had made, the same one she had worn to Balls in Atlanta when her husband was governor.  Her tastes were sometimes more homie than was typical, for example, for the Christmas tree in 1977, she chose ornaments made from pinecones, peanuts, and eggshells.  Her husband respected her skills and encouraged her participation in serious issues not typically addressed by first ladies.

Another thing unusual was his invitation to his wife to sit in on meetings with his staff.  Men were not particularly pleased to see Rosalynn taking notes during their meetings with the president.  She did not speak when she sat in on cabinet meetings, but her mere presence was objectional to many.  When asked why she took notes, she said, "I was there to be informed so that when I traveled across the country, which I did a great deal, and was questioned by the press and other individuals about all areas of government, I'd know what was going on."  I'm not sure that explanation would have pleased those in the President's cabinet, since it seems to suggest that she might have shared things they regarded as confidential.  Nevertheless, the president had great confidence in his wife's abilities and enjoyed being able to discuss things with her.

He was open with the people.  Perhaps they thought he was too much so, for example, in 1976 he sat for an interview for Playboy magazine, in which he spoke about the role of religion in his life.  The following quote was published.  "I try not to commit a deliberate sin.  I recognize that I'm human and I'm tempted...Christ said, 'I tell you that anyone who looks on a woman with lust has in his heart already committed adultery.'  I've looked on a lot of women with lust...and God forgives me for it."  It is hard to imagine any man more devoted to his wife or less likely to commit sin by lusting at the sight of another woman, but Jimmy took the Bible seriously.  Not every President can say the same.

Three things may have resulted in his failure to be reelected.  First, he was challenged in the primary by Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, an unthinkable thing to challenge a sitting president of your own party, even though the challenge was defeated.  Second, not everyone agreed with his decision to negotiate with Panama's future control of the Panama Canel.  (On December 21, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump threatened retaking control from Panama.)  Third, perhaps worst of all, in November of 1979, Iranian students captured the American embassy and detained more than 50 Americans for 444 days.  The longer they were detained, the more Carter was criticized.  For further humiliation, the prisoners were released immediately after the swearing in of the new president, Ronald Reagan.  

Perhaps Jimmy Carter's greatest achievement in office was the successful Camp David agreement in 1978.  As a citizen, he was widely admired for his hands on work building houses and supporting safe elections in other countries.  I think it is fitting to close with his own words.  When asked what things that you cannot see are most important, he replied:  "I would say justice, truth, humility, service, compassion, love.  You can't see any of those, but they're the guiding lights of a life."  Rest in peace Jimmy Carter.  You certainly strived to live by the list of unseen but important responsibilities you described.

Photograph credits taken in New Orleans:  Larry Fenwick

What Was He Thinking!

With a New Year just beginning, it is a good time to think about resolutions to improve yourself--the typical vow to lose weight, clean out the cupboards, or some other sincere commitments that too often are short lived.  Instead of worrying about resolution for ourselves, this is a suggestion for young people.

How many times have you seen something in the news, or maybe some foolishness in your own community, that made you think to yourself, 'What was he or she thinking?'

Today, logic is not taught as a separate study in most schools.  Should it be?  In our increasingly complex world, perhaps teaching critical thinking is more important than ever.  Protecting children from access to inappropriate information is challenging.  Perhaps the better solution is teaching them Logic and Critical thinking to enable them to distinguish between fact and opinion, to recognize and evaluate the credibility of information.

Whether it is something they see online or television, or it is something they hear from friends, kids are bound to encounter misinformation.  By teaching them logical thinking skills, they can learn to evaluate and assess the validity of information and arguments.  They can learn to identify biases and distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources.  

When are children old enough to be exposed to Logic?  There are differences of opinion, some believing it is best to wait until middle school, but others believe younger kids can benefit earlier, although care must be taken to avoid-- as they would have said back in my childhood-- 'avoiding letting younger kids get too big for their britches.'

With younger kids, training should be done with brain teasers, puzzles, experiments, and other problem-solving activities to activate their thinking, without directly relating it to activities that would make them disobedient.

For older students, the need for teaching logic is growingly important.  Today's students need to be able more than ever to evaluate the validity and reliability of sources of information.  Logic and critical thinking can enable them to distinguish between fact and opinion, to recognize illogical fallacies, and make informed judgments.

Whether young people are exposed to things on the internet or are influenced by other kids, it is important that they have the skills to evaluate the reliability and credibility of information, to identify flawed arguments and misleading claims, and to analyze arguments and assess their validity. 

Whether schools teach students how to think or not, they will learn--for good or for bad.  If your child's school does not have a qualified instructor for teaching Logic, it might be worth inquiring whether such instruction could be added to the curriculum.  

If that is not possible, there are ways you can encourage your children and upper grade students how to think Logically. 

 1.  Ask your children "why" frequently.  The importance in doing this is not to make them feel criticized but rather to encourage them to think things through.  I don't have children, but I suspect that asking them "why" regularly is going to result in your being asked "why" often too, but your willingness to respond with a reasonable reply will show them that having reasons for what you do is important. both for children and parents.

2.  Playing board games with your children can encourage strategy and logical thinking.  I recall a youngster visiting us who had a way of opening his first move in the game in the very same way every time.  The result was that he always lost, but when asked whether he might consider a different approach, he refused.  He was our guest, so we did not push him, but perhaps we could have helped him is some way.  Family board games may not be as popular as they once were, but it does seem like a great way to teach logic, and a nice way to bring the family together.  Try Chess and get out some of your favorite board games from childhood--Monopoly, Scrabble, or others

3.  Check online or in bookstores to see if there might be a method for teaching kids logical reasoning.

4.  Provide your kids with puzzles and brain teasers that they can enjoy on their own. 

Perhaps there are some good suggestions in this blog to consider as your family's New Year's resolution.  If you haven't played board games with your kids lately, maybe encouraging playing board games together isn't a bad New Year's resolution to make!  I know that kids today are busily scheduled with school activities and various other commitments, but I remember many different board games our family played, including playing with aunts and uncles when they visited.  As I researched this post, I realized that although I do not recall taking a class in Logic, I did play all kinds of board games with family and friends.  I remembered the fun, but looking back, maybe I learned more Logic than I knew from those board games!

Remember Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalogues?

Thinking about the Sears & Roebuck catalogue seems especially relevant during the holiday season.  We did not have Black Friday sales to fuel our shopping fever, but we had the mail-order catalogue to help us decide what to ask Santa to bring.  However, this blog is not just about Christmas Shopping.

 Do you remember the old Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalogues?  We must have ordered something from those catalogues, or surely, they would have stopped sending them to us, but I cannot remember buying anything.  I do remember looking through the new catalogues when they arrived, however.  This blog is about something they sold long before I would have been flipping the pages, however.

Mail Order Houses

In the early part of the 20th Century, you could buy a Sears Modern Home through the catalogue.  The kit came with blueprints, and if you could not afford the price all at once, they provided monthly payments.  All of the pieces were precut, numbered, and ready to fit together.  Nails and paint were included, but you would need to find someone to assemble the pieces, unless you were handy enough to tackle such a job. 

Sales went well until the Great Depression, their best year being 1929.  Sears had a loan program that required a small down payment, and once that was paid, they would lend $3 for every $1 the customer had invested in the house.  As you can imagine, many purchasers were still making payments when the depression hit, and although sales rebounded from 1936 to 1938, the Sears Modern Home department never fully recovered, and in 1940 they were out of the Sears Kit Business.

I have been told that several homes were built in central Kansas in the community where we now live, but I have not been able to verify that they were Sears Modern Homes.  They sold somewhere around 75,000 homes between 1908 and 1940.  There were hundreds of styles, from small bungalows to larger homes.  Thanks to Jenny Ashcraft for posting online and sending me on the search for more information.  

However, what also interested me were the modern homes I discovered online.  There are many examples of such homes available today, from lovely 2-story traditional homes to single story homes that can be built on a foundation or a basement, to custom homes built on your land to tiny modern Prefab homes or log cabins, tiny or majestic.  There are even houses built on wheels so you can move your residence as you choose.  Sears, Roebuck & Company was just ahead of their time!  

    

 

Our Christmas Adventure!

William Allen White's Typewriter

     

For many years, my husband and I have wanted to tour the William Allen White home, and when we were near Emporia, Kansas we would stop by to see if their home was open for tours.  We were never lucky enough to find Red Rocks, the name they gave their home, open for tours.

    So, when we learned that they were having a special Holiday celebration at the house on December 9, 2024, we set the alarm clock to get up in time to drive to Emporia. What a wonderful tour we had!  

    I think the first time I was aware of White was in high school, when we read the Editorial/obituary he and his wife wrote for their daughter.  It is such a lovely tribute to her, and although she died in 1921, over the years it has been read by countless numbers of people.

    He is also famous for his editorial titled "What's the Matter with Kansas?" in which he criticized Populist leaders for failing to keep up with the economy of surrounding neighboring states.

    As a newspaper man, the respect he earned was not limited to Kansas.  Not only did his writing appear in his Emporia Gazette, but his editorials were widely reprinted. His reputation brought him many friends, and among those friends who came to stay in his home were Theodore Roosevelt, Douglas Fairbanks, Edna Ferber, Dorothy Canfield, and Herbert Hoover.

    Among his many achievements, perhaps the most notable was his decision to run for governor of Kansas.  He took the decision seriously, and he campaigned across the state; however, his motive had a bigger purpose than simply running for the office of governor.  The Ku Klux Klan had begun to expand into Kansas, and White used his campaigning to warn Kansans about the danger of the Klan.  He did not win the office of Governor, but his speeches were credited with helping to block the spread of the Klan.

    If you are not familiar with William Allen White, it is worth your time to do some research about this well-known and highly respected Kansan.  He should not be forgotten.  

    A wonderful crowd attended the open house, and a professor from the college entertained us with her harp, playing Christmas music.  The volunteer hostesses were well informed and graciously shared information about each room. It was exciting to me to see the small typewriter that he used to write the newspaper articles and books that brought him fame.

    The house is lovely, and I could not help but look around the room as I enjoyed the music, imagining the famous men and women who had shared the hospitality of the house before me.

    During World War II, the City of Emporia raised $25,000 in war bonds and they were given naming rights for a B-29 bomber.  They chose to name it the William Allen White.  It was part of the same bomber squadron that the Enola Gay was in.

    William Allen White's autobiography was published posthumously in 1946, and it won the Pulitzer Prize for Biograph/Autobiography.  We came home with our own copy of his book, as well as another book and wonderful memories of the day.

Decorating for Christmas

When I was a child, we always had a freshly cut tree, usually bought at the grocery store.  I still cherish memories of decorating the family tree together, and I miss the fresh cut smell that filled the house.  

When my husband and I married, we lived in a trailer house, and there was no room for a tree.  The first real Christmas tree, with ornaments of our own, was in our apartment near the military base, where my husband served in the Air Force.  Year by year, our collection of ornaments grew, and we added many on trips, bringing home ornaments as souvenirs.  As our holiday collection increased, we got bigger trees, and eventually we decorated more than one tree.  When we lived in large cities, I loved shopping in stores the day after Christmas, when decorations were marked down in price.  Gradually our holiday collections expanded.

I love decorating for holidays--Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter--but Christmas is the best.  This year we have three full-size trees and one rather large tabletop tree, as well as decorations on every surface I can find!  My husband suggested that I be satisfied with two trees this year, but I insisted on a third tree, and this year, it is the Oz tree.  When we lived in other states, we were often asked jokingly if we knew Dorothy, or if we had been in a tornado.  Most people did not know much about Kansas, but they knew about the Wizard of Oz.  

Just for fun, I set Scare Crow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and Dorothy near the tree to share the holiday with us. 

For a few days we will be sharing our home with not only the Oz characters but also angels and snowmen and Santa Clauses and characters from the Nutcracker, and best of all, with friends and family.  

Best wishes and happy holidays!

A Changing World

 I often look to history for guidance in solving modern problems, wisdom ranging from Abraham Lincoln to Edward R. Murrow to Socrates and many more.  My research has now taken me to Emile Durkheim, a French sociologist born 1858, died 1917, who is known as a principal architect of modern social science.  His work involved how societies can maintain their integrity in times in which societies lack agreement on so many norms of behavior, in other words, when they disagree on so many different things that reaching agreement of guidelines for behavior breaks down.

I was a post WW II baby, and between 1945 when the war ended and 2000 when we entered a new century, so many things had changed.  Many of my blogs have included the changes in traditions, in how we dress, in professions now open to women, in communication, in medicine, in population growth and many ethnicities, in religions, in moral changes.  In a survey taken between 2007 and 2014, within persons of faith, 70.6% were Christian, but there were more than 9 different denominations.  Among non-Christian faiths there were more than ten different faiths, and nearly 23% of those surveyed were nonbelievers or "nothing in particular."  

I blogged about the initial purpose of public-school educations, so that all children could benefit from the same education, but today we have public schools, private schools, home schools, and with the Supreme Court ruling of 2022, expanded voucher programs now allow parents to apply government funds to  religious and other private schools, so long as funds are not used for religious education. 

 Americans get their news from the Evening News, the all-day television commentators, from tik-tok, the internet, and countless other sources.  The internet, with all of the value it provides, also provides the wide dispersal of disinformation and falsehoods.  

Emile Durkheim

Emile Durkheim's research sought to answer "how is a society created" and "what holds a society together."  He concluded that the norms, beliefs, and values that are common to the average members of society form "Collective consciousness" essential to the survival of society.

He believed that as people interact with one another they form common opinions and norms.  Without those interactions gradually shaping common norms, the beliefs and sentiments common to the average members of society break down.  When the public and private rituals of society are broken, moral solidarity decreases. 

In August of 2021, a Gallup article by Frank Newport expanded on the work of Durkheim.  Citing the numerous social changes regarding moral and other value decisions, allowing individual choices has become acceptable.  Gallup research has found that the result is the "diminishing of confidence in the church and organized religion, the Supreme Court, Congress, public schools, the news media, and the presidency."  

Author Newport concluded his article with these words:  "But as research shows that Americans show a lessening need to adhere to traditional norms and exhibit increasingly negative perceptions of institutions, structures and systems, it's important to keep the focus on just how the public would like to see things change.  This remains a major challenge for the years ahead.  Important though it is to criticize the systems and structures of our society, it is equally important to recognize that we need acceptable systems and structures that will work well in their stead."

In the months since that article was written, the words seem even more important.  I have written about many of these issues separately, but considered together the importance of our response seems even more complex and essential.

Rest in Peace

I understand this cemetery is better maintained now.

Some time ago I wrote a post about neglected cemeteries and the terrible disrespect shown to some cemeteries by kids with too much to drink or  who thought tipping grave stones was fun.  I believe this once neglected cemetery is now being better cared for, and I have not heard any recent reports of intentional tipping, so that is good news.

However, in my continuing history research I found a very sad story that happened a century ago.  In the early 1900s, San Francisco had begun to run out of space, so they banned any further burials, but in 1912 they decided to evict existing cemeteries, the  Presidio Cemetery being the only exception.  If families of the deceased were located, they could pay $10 to have their loved one moved.  If families could not be located, or could not afford the fee, bodies were reinterred in mass graves.  Old headstones were either destroyed or recycled for other projects.  The warning of the removals was published in the San Francisco Chronicle on March 28, 1900.  

On December 17, 1913, the San Francisco Journal & Daily Journal of Commerce published the following:  All cemeteries situated within the above-described limits are hereby declared to be a public nuisance and a menace and detriment to the public health and welfare, and it is hereby ordered that all of said cemeteries be abolished .... or otherwise properly disposed of in accordance with law.

So, why am I sharing such a tragic story?  Because, recently Forbes Business published this headline:  "Urban Cemeteries Running Out Of Space As Baby Boomers Enter Twilight Years."  As an example, Brooklyn's historic Greenwood Cemetery is struggling to find spaces, along with many other urban cemeteries in our biggest cities.  America is not running out of land, but many urban cities are.  Being buried near where you live or where family would prefer to bury you nearby may present problems.  

As urban cemeteries fill, the land around them is becoming more expensive as well.  As the population grows, more land is needed for family homes.  It is estimated that between 2024 and 2042, 76 million Americans will reach the life expectancy age of 78 during that time.  If standard lots were continued for burials, that would require 130 square miles. 

The National Funeral Directors Association reports that cremation has reached a high of 50% of all funerals.  They estimate that by 2035 nearly 80% will be cremations.

I was surprised by those statistics, and I thought perhaps others would be as well.  We have many lovely cemeteries in our communities, as well as some lovely country cemeteries where families are still choosing to be buried.  It was finding the story about the sad decision in San Francisco that led me to research current cemeteries.  While it may not be of immediate concern in our location, it is something to consider so that the dreadful decision San Francisco made is never repeated!     

 

   
 

Guiding Kids to Discover Reading

 

One bookcase of many in our home.

"Hey, kids! It's your old buddy Steve King telling you that if they ban a book in your school library, ...(go) to the nearest bookstore or library ASAP and find out what they don't want you to read..." I had to laugh when I read that quote, which I am sure King meant with humor and a little annoyance about the extreme book banning we have seen of even classic literature.  In my childhood, I was left on my own to select books, and I missed so many wonderful classics, but on the other hand, I became a serious reader for life, and perhaps that was the most important thing.  However, that is where a Librarian could have been helpful.  As an adult, I have enjoyed reading classic Children's books belatedly.

Among some of my favorite children's books that have been banned are Charlotte's Web, The Giving Tree, and Where the Wild Things are.  Apparently, some of the book banners find talking animals inappropriate.  That thinking could eliminate so many wonderful books, if children were kept from reading them.  What about dolls?  Don't most children talk to their dolls?  What about pets?  Don't children talk to pets?  A healthy imagination is important for children, and although I tend to think classic children's books are better written than many modern books, I am grateful for librarians who continue to challenge ridiculous banning.   

 I have returned to continue this blog about encouraging kids to read because a friend posted a comment to last week's blog that I just had to share. I "met" this friend because a mutual friend of mine told him about my efforts to write "Prairie Bachelor."  We began to correspond, although he lived on the other side of the world, and the correspondence has continued.  The following is his response to last week's blog.  

"My Mother was so glad when I started school and learned to read because I shut up asking questions. We always had a good cross section of newspapers and Magazines in our home. Black Beauty was my first real book. When (his) kids were young we had all the Dr. Seuss books and all the Bernstein Bears which we read over and over ad nauseum. We had dozens of Little Golden Books. As they grew older, they started their own book shelves...Anne of Green Gables series, The Little House on the Prairie series, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe series, Robin Hood, Treasure Island, etc. The youngest is a Librarian in London, U.K., second oldest is a Professor of Victorian Literature, son has read every serious novel he can lay his hands on, the oldest reads adult paperbacks." 

Thank you my long-distance friend for sharing your family's love of reading. Although you did not mention it, I am certain that seeing their father reading had an important impact on their love for reading. 

 What his reply to last week's post reminded me was the presence of magazines and newspapers in my childhood home. My mother did belong to a book club for a while, where she received a new novel every 3 months, but it was really the newspapers and magazines that I saw my parents reading most of the time. It had not occurred to me how important that must have been to me. Although I did not see them reading books as often, I certainly saw them reading the many magazine subscriptions that came in the mail. Today, children have less opportunity to see their parents reading, so many small-town newspapers having disappeared in many communities, although we still have our local weekly paper. Magazines are begging for subscribers. With kids today having less likely opportunity to see their parents reading, it is all the more important to read to them from early childhood until they can read for themselves.  

What Happened?

 Do you remember these Library Cards?  I often buy old books, and this particular former library book looked like new.  When I opened it I understood why.  Apparently, it had never been checked out.  How sad.  The book was published by the Kansas State Historical Society, and Miss Louise Barry's thick book of a decade of research, with the author's goal to document a record of known activity in the pre-Kansas region from the appearance of the first Europeans in the mid-1500s to 1854, is not for everyone.  

It includes the early history of the displacement of  Indigenous  people, and of the surveyors running lines to determine reservation boundaries for of promises such as the following example in 1828; It guaranteed eleven millions of acres of land and a perpetual outlet to the west, a permanent home...which shall, under the most solemn guarantee of the United States, be and remain theirs forever--a home that shall never, in all future time, be embarrassed by having extended around it the line, or placed over it the jurisdiction of a territory or state, nor be pressed upon by the extension, in any way, of any of the limits of any existing territory or state...

 Of course, we now know that the promise, with all of its grand words, did not last.  The book is a valuable record, but not intended for most readers.  I do hope it can still be found in libraries for scholarly researchers, and I will try to get my copy to such a place.  

However, my blog was inspired by reading about a college student seeking help from a college counselor.  She had been a good student in high school, but she was struggling with the reading assignments she was being given in college.  The counselor asked whether there had been reading assignments given to her in high school, and she acknowledged that there had been.  However, she said that her high school assignments had only been a few pages.  She was overwhelmed by being asked to read an entire book.  That was just too much for her! 

I assume it was a novel or a biography that she was assigned to read over a period of a few days.  How sad it is that she had never been guided into the pleasure of vicariously traveling to a new place and immersing herself into the life of a fictional person or reading the Diary of Anne Frank to better understand war and hate, or reading about an actress or an athlete or a scientist that encouraged her to pursue a dream of her own.  

The joy of reading is best acquired by being read to by parents and seeing them read books of their own.  Children learn by watching, and if they see parents and older siblings reading, it is more likely that they will want to learn to read too.  Reading not only shares stories, it introduces children to the lives of children who are different, it allows them to travel to faraway places, it allows then to experience sad events so that if sadness really comes into their lives they can better understand how to face it.  Studies also show that meeting all kinds of people in books makes children   more empathetic.  

How sad that the college girl that sought help from the counselor had not been exposed to books from childhood.  Having scary fairy tales read to a child sitting safely in a parent's lap is the best way to confront evil witches for the first time.  Feeling sad for Black Beauty with its eventual reunion is a gentler way to prepare for the inevitable death of a pet.  Children who read, whether fiction or biography, benefit from experiencing what it was like to live in the 1800s, or in a different country, or to be of a different ethnicity, or even to experiencing the death of a fictional friend.  Learning these things vicariously, they are better prepared for actual events in their lives.  Think of all the things that coed had missed by restricting her experiences to her own immediate life or perhaps the few pages of her prior limited reading assignments.  How much empathy for those different from herself can she feel, if she had never cried while reading a book about someone different?  How can she ever learn from history if she only reads text books, which is much different from reading historic fiction and becoming fictional friends with a Jewish girl in Germany at the start of W.W. II, if she overlooked reading the Diary of Anne Frank?

To Librarians making room on the shelves for new books, why not guide young readers to classic books that their parents and grandparents read and loved years ago.  And parents, please read to your children, even when you may think they are too young to understand.  Read fairy tales, and buy them books of their own.  

I have been in waiting rooms and have seen parents give their small children their phones to play with.  I would much rather plant the seed for reading in a child's hands than the seed for living online.    Help them fall in love with reading when it still seems exciting to master that skill.

I don't expect many people to go in search of the book I introduced at the beginning of this blog, but I do hope I can plant a seed or two that encourages a few to read to babies very early, to buy them books of their own, to let them see you reading while they are young enough to emulate you.  And, get them a library card of their own early!  Our community has so many wonderful Libraries! 

A  P.S. to Librarians:  Please keep children's classics on the shelves.  Classics do not grow old.  The Illustrators from the 1980s and 1990s and a few more years are fantastic.  Please keep them on the shelves where kids (and parents) can find them.

  

Reflections from Past Presidents

Election Ballot from the Peoples' Party Era

 In the previous 3 posts, I have shared the actions of past presidents.  Now, with some Americans having already voted and the rest of us soon to do so, I will share a few comments of past Presidents...worthy words for reflection as we make our election choices.

George Washington:  "Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder."

John Adams:  Speaking from the White House:  "May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof."

John Quincy Adams:  "Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." 

Benjamin Harrison:  "The disfranchisement of a single elector by fraud or intimidation is a crime too grave to be regarded lightly."

Herbert Hoover:  "A splendid storehouse of integrity and freedom has been bequeathed to us by our forefathers.  In this day of confusion, of peril to liberty, our high duty is to see that the storehouse is not robbed of it contents."  

Harry S. Truman:  "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit."

John F. Kennedy:  "If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity."  

Gerald Ford:  "Truth is the glue that holds governments together."

Bill Clinton:  "We need a spirit of community, a sense that we are all in this together.  If we have no sense of community, the American dream will wither."

    Before voting, I decided to do something I had never done...I made a list of what I think is important in our leaders.  The following are my thoughts:

1.  Personal Integrity

2.  Knowledge of and respect for the Constitution

3.  Knowledge of History--both American and World

4.  Service, such as Military, offices held, whether national, state, or local offices

5.  Education, whether university or reading history, biographies, or other means of learning, such as travel or attending lectures

6. A respectful demeaner

7.  Experience in working with and meeting others, whose lives and Experiences may be different from his or her own.

8.  Observing the people with whom he or she surrounds him or herself

9.  Life Experiences

10.  How he or she expresses him or her self; communication skills

11.  A demeaner of dignity balanced with humility, a respect for others

12.  A sense of service to the Nation, a respect for the privilege of serving the Nation and its People.

I did not realize until I have finished my list of things important to me about the person for whom I would vote that I had included nothing about particular things that I regard as important, and I certainly have my opinions about specific issues.  However, I put more faith in matters of character and wisdom than in my own personal checklist of things I believe should be done.  

Although I had never made such a list before, I found it interesting.  If you are still sitting on the fence about your choices, you might make a list of what is most important to you.  Each of us make a difference.  Vote.

What did Presidents Say? #3

 

    In his Inaugural Address, President Ronald Reagan spoke of the importance of the orderly transfer of authority as called for in our Constitution.  Perhaps few of us then stop to think how unique we really are.  In the eyes of many in the world, this every-four year ceremony we accept as normal is nothing less than a miracle.    

 Reagan continued, "Mr. President, I want our fellow citizens to know how much you did to carry on this tradition.  By your gracious cooperation in the transition process, you have shown a watching world that we are a united people which guarantees individual liberty to a greater degree than any other, and I thank you and your people for all your help in maintaining the continuity which is the bulwark of our republic." 

What many may have forgotten and perhaps more have never known is that rumors still exist that the amazing release of American prisoners, which President Carter had struggled to achieve, was surprisingly accomplished moments after Reagan was sworn into office.  How that happened isn't the point in this blog.  The far more important thing that we know is that both men moved on to do what was best for the Nation.  Whatever background negotiations did or did not occur, both presidents worked together to achieve a peaceful transition of power, not only assisting as Reagan acknowledged but also publicly shaking hands and appearing at the traditional ceremony.

    It may come as a surprise to many Americans to learn that in the past there was less hurry to get the newly elected Presidents into office than there is today.  It was not until 1933 that the 20th amendment moved the ending of the terms of office from March to January.  In addition, it was The Presidential Transition Act of 1963 that provided mechanisms to facilitate an orderly and peaceful transition of power.

Today major-party presidential candidates receive national security briefings once their nomination is formalized by their party.  Just after the presidential election the president elect is informed of the lists of over 9,000 federal civil service leadership and support political appointment positions to review, and fill or confirm.  Normally, there are Transition Teams who begin vetting positions to fill the new administration.  For those of us who have never come near such an overwhelming task, it is hard to imagine, even with the cooperation of both the outgoing and the incoming Presidents and their staff working together.  Yet, for the good of the nation, most Presidents put their own feelings aside and do what is best for the nation.  To fail to do so jeopardizes all of us.

    Let me share another example of someone who did what he thought was right.  Some of you may remember the hanging-chad problem of 2000.   The outcome of the election came down to one state's election results, where the accuracy of the vote count was uncertain.  In addition to the confusing alignment of where to punch your vote, the Florida "butterfly ballot" also sometimes failed to clearly function, leaving those counting votes to "guess" what was an intended punch. Perhaps complicating it even more were the number of candidates on the ballots, a total of 10, although only two were close. 

Florida butterfly ballot

To make it worse, in terms of "how things looked" was the fact that one of the candidates was the son of a former President and the brother of the state's Governor with the hanging-chad problem,  To cap that off, the Secretary of State who certified the winner was that candidate's co-chair of his campaign.  Those things made it even more difficult not to question the potential bias in the counting.

When the Secretary of State announced the victor, the Democrats sued for a recount.  The circuit court ruled against the recount, but the Florida Supreme Court reversed, agreeing to the need for a recount.  Ultimately, it went to the U.S. Supreme Court, where it was decided on a 5-4 vote, that any other means of a recount could not be decided in a timely manner.  Although the Supreme Court did not decide the election directly, it did so indirectly, by ruling there was no time for a recount.  The fact that the vote was decided on party lines--the 5 republican appointees majority deciding the case, with the 4 democrat appointees in the minority, making it seem that there was a political bias, whether there was or not.  

Yet, Al Gore honored the court's decision, setting an example to the nation.  As a further act to maintain acceptance, both the out-going Vice-President Gore and the out-going President Clinton attended the inaugural ceremony, publicly acknowledging the authenticity of the new president and vice president.  American citizens accepted the Supreme Court's decision, not necessarily because they liked it or agreed with it, or even thought it was right but because we are a nation of laws, and by example both outgoing President Clinton and Democratic nominee and Vice-President Gore set the example of how our democracy works.   

Most, although not all presidents, not only accept the outcome but also participate in the smooth transition from one president to the newly elected president not only because a lack of a smooth transition puts the safety of the nation at risk but also because they respect the Constitution. Being chosen as president is a responsibility, not a gift.  Under our constitution it is a responsibility to all of us as well, to accept the rule of law.  Yes, there have been a few poor Losers in our history who have avoided the swearing-in but most have honored that responsibility.  As Lincoln said, "In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, is the momentous issue...We are not enemies, but friends.  We must not be enemies.  Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection."  Our Constitution will endure, but we the people have the responsibility to protect and defend it from harm, foreign or domestic.  That is what we must all remember.  

If you would like to share the research I have done in preparing the 3 blogs "What did Presidents Say? feel free to share them.  

    

What did Past Presidents Say, #2.

 

    Imagine the challenge Abraham Lincoln faced.  He was elected in November of 1860. but before he could take office seven Southern States had seceded from the Union.  In March, after he was inaugurated, four more left the Union. Preparing what to say at his 1st Inaugural Address was something no other elected president had faced.  

He began by reminding Americans that "...the Constitution of the Union of these States is perpetual..."  Think about that.  To be perpetual is to be everlasting, continuing forever, valid for all time.  Yet, seven states had seceded, and more were expected to do so.  

Having chosen to begin by reminding the nation that the Constitution of the Union of these States is perpetual, he continued.  "It is safe to assert that no government proper ever had a provision in its organic law for its own termination.  ...the Union will endure forever, it being impossible to destroy it by some action not provided for in the instrument itself."  

He continued, "In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war.  The Government will not assail you.  You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors.  You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the Government, while I shall have the most solemn one to 'preserve, protect, and defend it.'"

Concluding, Lincoln said, "I am loath to close.  We are not enemies, but friends.  We must not be enemies.  Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.  The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."

If there are words more capable of touching hearts and causing reflection, I cannot imagine what those words would be.  Yet, we know that Lincoln's words were not enough to stop the Civil War.  We must hope that if such a time were ever to come again, that Lincoln's words, together with the wisdom to be learned from history, could stop an assault on our Constitution, a betrayal of the perpetual promise of America.  

President Lincoln was a victim of that war, as surely as were the soldiers who fought in the battles of the Civil War.  He gave everything he had to give, including his life.  

    Generations later another president was still fighting for the full rights for Black Americans, and his name was Lyndon B. Johnson.  In March of 1965, President Johnson spoke these words:  "This is one nation.  What happens in Selma or in Cincinnati is a matter of legitimate concern to every American.  But let each of us look within our own hearts and our own communities, and let each of us put our shoulder to the wheel to root out injustice wherever it exists."

    Neither of these two men fully succeeded in accomplishing what they wanted to do, but they tried, and they believed in us to preserve and protect our union, to make sure that in our generation we respected that our union is perpetual.  

What did Past Presidents Say? #1

  

  With Election Day drawing closer, I thought it might be interesting to explore what some of our past Presidents had to say.  It seems appropriate to begin with our first president, George Washington, who was concerned enough by what he called "The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party" to sound a warning in his Farewell Address.  The following quote explains the concerns Washington had about the dangers of Americans adhering too closely to political parties rather than judging for themselves after careful consideration.   

Washington warned:  "It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another; ferments occasionally riot and insurrection.  It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passion.  ...A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest instead of warning, it should consume."

From the time of Washington's presidency to the present, political parties have come and gone, but the power and influence of political parties have remained.  His words continue to deserve consideration. 

    We sometimes forget the bravery of our founding fathers, who literally risked their lives to establish the federal government of the United States of America, and the Constitution that has guided our nation.  One of those men was John Langdon of New Hampshire.  James Madison described Langdon as "a true patriot and a good man, with a noble way of thinking and a frankness and warmth of heart that made his friends love him much, as it did me in a high degree."  While many of us may not recognize his name, his generosity and wisdom have played an important role in the founding of our nation.  He served his state of New Hampshire in many roles, but his words are important in considering the importance of the roles played by both states and our nation.  John Langdon said:  "The General and State Governments are not enemies to each other, but different institutions for the good of the people of America.  As one of the people, I can say the National Government is mine, the State Government is mine.  In transferring power from one to the other, I only take out of my left hand what it cannot so well use, and put it into my right hand where it can be better used."

    I find it very important to reflect on the amazing courage and wisdom of our founding fathers.  On June 19, 2024, I shared A Patriate Sometimes Overlooked, describing the role played by John Marshall in shaping our Supreme Court.  You might enjoy scrolling back to that post. 

    Next week I will post thoughts from other past presidents.   

        

What is Education?

A Sod School House

 My great grandmother, Susan Beck, was the first country schoolteacher in the community where I grew up.  She had taught school before coming to Kansas, and when neighbors learned that there was a teacher in the community, they asked her to teach their children.  She had two young children, so she felt that was the most important responsibility for her, but as soon as her children were old enough to be brought to school with her, she agreed to begin teaching, although they were still quite young.  The neighbors were so excited to have a schoolteacher, that they built a sod school!  This picture is not of her school; however, there were many communities that built sod schools, just happy that their children could have an education.  

I find myself wondering about education today.  My family has a history of teaching.  Susan's daughter became a teacher, and her nieces followed in her footsteps, as did my generation and the generation that followed.  I am sure that is true of many families.

I have blogged before about my concerns of education today.  Frankly, I disagree with the notion that every child deserves a trophy.  Part of learning is being taught to do your best, but also to realize that all of us are given different skills.  Pretending that everyone is deserving of a trophy is a disincentive, both to the ones who deserved it and to the students who are taught to expect a reward for undeserved recognition.  Sometimes it becomes an excuse for not giving those who need help the extra attention they need.  Sometimes it creates resentment when they leave school and aren't given the jobs they have been misled to believe they could do.  Students need help when their work is not at the level it should be, not a false sense of achievement.  And, students with a "big head" need lessons in such things as empathy, respect, courtesy to value others, with different skills, for which trophies may not be given. 

This blog was inspired by a quote from Theodore Roosevelt.  He said, "To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to Society."

I taught elementary, high school, and graduate school levels, but I have not taught since the internet existed, and I realize that the world has changed.  What a wonderful tool that is, but what negative risks it has also delivered.  

I went in search of quotes about education, and I found many encouraging its importance. However, I found far fewer about the importance of good character and respect for others as an important part of a successful education.   I will close with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.  "The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.  Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education."

What Have We Learned?

Memorial to W.W. I Soldiers

 My husband and I graduated from college during Viet Nam.  We were about to retire when nine-eleven shocked America.  Today, America is involved in helping those we believe are in the right to defend themselves against others who started war against them. We are not fighting, but we are indirectly involved.  Centuries ago, Plato said "Only the dead have seen the end of war."

The existence of the United States of America began on April 19, 1775, when 700 British soldiers were confronted by 77 minutemen. Both sides thought they were in the right.  Decades later, Winsten Churchill said "War is mainly a catalogue of blunders."  

If we know that what these men who have experienced war concluded, why do wars continue?  John Steinbeck explained it this way:  "All war is a symptom of man's failures as a thinking animal."  While that may be true, it does not offer a solution.  Richard Nixon thought he had the answer, when he said:  "Short of changing human nature,,.. the only way to achieve a practical peace in a world of competing nations is to take the profit out of war."  While that may sound like a solution, aren't most wars fought for some perceived benefit--to acquire land that is valuable in some way, to gain access to a shipping passage, to achieve a benefit of some kind?  His comment seams more of an observation than a solution.

Yet, great minds have warned that we must find a way to halt war.  H.G. Wells said, "If we don't end war, war will end us."  Albert Einstein described the importance of avoiding wars in this way:  "I know not what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

In more recent times, Madeleine Albright said, "I am an optimist that worries a lot. ...I have seen enough examples of altruism and sacrifice to live in astonishment at what humans are willing to do for one another; and enough examples of cruelty to despair at what we are capable of doing to each other.  The contradictions within human nature are inescapable.  Liberty is our gift and our burden, carrying with it both the responsibility to choose and accountability for the choices we make." 

At the end of WW I there was a genuine effort made to end wars, and Woodrow Wilson was a part of it.  He said of the American soldiers, they fought for "the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free."  He would have been saddened by the wars that have followed since then.

To answer my question, What Have We Learned? I have not found an answer.  I don't suppose I should feel embarrassed, since those far wiser than I am, cannot seem to find the answer either.  I suppose that what is important is that we do keep trying to find an answer as best we can. 

 

Looking to the Past as a Reminder

People's Party Political Cartoon  

I strive in this blog to be informational--to share history in particular.  The blog began when I was doing research for my book, Prairie Bachelor, The story of a Kansas Homesteader and the Populist Movement.  I shared things I learned about how Isaac B. Werner staked his claims--  things that mattered to Isaac and still matter today, such as literacy, art, education--and the wider history of our nation, especially how important it is to learn the lessons history has to teach us.    

I wrote this blog several years ago, and for some reason it was never posted.  However, I recently came across it, and thought it was relevant to issues we are dealing with today.  I hope you enjoy it.  

Isaac B. Werner was active in the populist movement of the late 1800s.  Many posts have shared information about that movement and the political parties that evolved during that time to confront the two established parties, which farmers, ranchers, miners, and other laborers found to have been neglectful of the concerns of the common man.  The People's Party, which grew out of this movement, focused on such things as fair sharing of wealth with the laborers whose efforts created it, and limiting the political influence of monopolies, speculators, railroads and other corporations.  Some of the things that those populists advocated have been adopted, such as the use of secret ballots, direct election of Senators, and 8-hour work laws.  

The words of the People's Party Preamble, written by Ignatius Donnelly, include two important priorities:  First, "we seek to restore the government of the Republic to the hands of the plain people, with which class it originated."  Second, "We declare that this Republic can only endure as a free government while built upon the love of the whole people for each other and for the nation; that it cannot be pinned together by bayonets; ...and that we must be in fact, as we are in name, one united brotherhood of free men."

The opposition of the People's Party regarding "undesirable emigration" should be noted, particularly their resentment that manufacturers were hiring poor emigrants to work for wages that made even minimal living standards impossible, firing workers who had been paid more because of the cheaper wages and unsafe working environments that desperate emigrants would accept.  The animosity was largely economic. 

The populist movement with its roots in the late 1800s still has things to remind us.   

Today our Nation also seems divided, although there is no third political party involved.  However, perhaps there are lessons we can take from history. 

Sometimes we forget that our Nation has had divisive times in the past, the obvious example being the Civil War.  However, there were other times when the Nation was threatened from within, such as the KKK, and the American Nazis gathering at Madison Square Garden in 1939. Our Forefathers believed in us, and the ability of citizens to protect what they created for us.  There will always be hate groups and politicians like Senator Joseph McCarthy, who spewed misinformation and hate, saying whatever it took to gain or hold office. So far, American voters have managed to live up to the responsibility of electing candidates who will continue to protect our constitution. The protections the Founding Fathers put in place have held.  Unfortunately, not all elected officials chosen by voters have been responsible, as well as some placed in official roles that do not require election.  

What history has shown us is not that preserving the Union is always easy, and this blog is intended to remind us of that.  What is important is that they trusted us to vote, and we must respect that responsibility.  From local offices to the Presidency, our votes count, and our responsibility to vote wisely matters.  I like Donnelly's quote: "We declare that this Republic can only endure as a free government while built upon the love of the whole people for each other and for the nation; that it cannot be pinned together by bayonets; ...and that we must be in fact, as we are in name, one united brotherhood of free men." The challenge of preserving the union requires our vigilance, and our  sense of respect and responsibility to elect people who see themselves as guardians of our precious Constitution.  This blog reminds us that there have been difficult times in the past, but enough voters have selected wise men and women to keep our Constitution safe.  Vote as if your vote mattered--because it does!       

  

Wisdom or Ignorance

A Mother's 100th Birthday with her son

 Often, I will stumble across something that I think might make a good blog post, and I will make myself a note on whatever piece of paper that is handy.  Quite some time ago, I came across the word "Wisdom" and wondered exactly what wisdom is.  I found some interesting definitions and jotted them down.  This morning, I came across that piece of paper with the definitions, and here are some of them:

For children, I liked this definition: It is knowing what is right and doing it.  For adults, I found many definitions, and here are three:  1. The ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight;  2.  Not simply mental knowledge of the truth, but integration of that knowledge into the whole of our lives; and 3.  Knowledge, experience, and deep understanding.

Today, as I was preparing to write this blog I thought about my definitions for wisdom, and wondered what the opposite of wisdom is.  Perhaps, the opposite is Ignorance, I thought.  However, my search for the meaning of ignorance was complicated.  Is ignorance a lack of knowledge, education, or awareness?  I found a long string of synonyms, such as stupidity, rashness, imprudence, illiteracy, and foolishness among others, but some of those meanings seem critical, while others are just a lack of knowledge, education, awareness, or opportunity to learn.  In fact, all of us are ignorant about certain things.

I suppose that what is actually troubling me is how complicated our world is becoming.  It seems impossible to be knowledgeable about everything in today's world, yet we seem to be expected to learn things that once were fairly simple but no longer are.  

More and more, we are expected to communicate not directly with a human being on the telephone, but rather to a machine.  Placing an order, scheduling an appointment, filling out an information form prior to going to the doctor or business may be efficient, but it is often impersonal, confusing, or annoying for the customer or patient.  

My point is, the definitions of Wisdom and Ignorance are changing.  The elderly couple trying to order a subscription online, or fill out a form to buy the basket of fruit they have ordered for friends for years may find it nearly impossible today, leaving them feeling confused and stupid.  That the same couple might be able to roast a Thanksgiving turkey to perfection or rebuild a vintage car.  On the other hand, their grandchildren can navigate a computer in the dark. 

Every generation must have struggled with change, but today we seem also to struggle with values.  Is  my respect for history and the wisdom we can learn from history going out of fashion? Are politeness and courtesy becoming obsolete.?  I hope not.   

 

What is Important?

It is an election year, and if you have a television you have probably had enough of being told who to vote for!  I do think it is important that people vote.  I also think we have a responsibility to take voting seriously.  I am grateful to people in our communities who are willing to take the responsibility to run for school boards, city offices, or even serve on committees that are so important to our communities.  Without those willing to give of their time, we could not have the functioning communities we have.  But this is an election year to choose the President of the United States, and I have been giving that a lot of thought.  What do I think is important in deciding who deserves my vote?

First, the president needs to be a lot smarter than I am!  Can you imagine the responsibility, the constant issues a president must be prepared to handle?  The sacrifice of personal time for yourself and your family, the constant need to be aware that you must consider whatever you say, whatever you wear, whomever you appear with, even in casual situations, for you will be judged.  That is more than most of us can even imagine.  And, none of that is even really about the huge responsibilities of assuming that office.  However, beyond those things, here are some things I think are important to consider in evaluating a candidate for the presidency, and other government offices.

First, I think maturity is important.  Some people mature faster than others, but even the smartest young people need to have experienced life as an adult for a while to learn a few lessons.  By law, our Presidents and Vice-Presidents must be 35, Senators must be 30, and Members of the House must be 25.  In Kansas, the Govenor must be 25, to serve in the Upper House 18, the Lower House 18, Lieutenant Govenor 25, and Attorney General and Secretary of State do not have an age requirement apparently.  I almost hate to include the ages for members of the House for fear some 18 year olds will read this and run for office!

Unfortunately, Maturity is not always about your age.  Courtesy, Respect for the office you hold, and just a politeness for the fact that people thought you would represent them with a sense of dignity seems important to me.  Ignoring traditions, customs of dress, and declining to appear at traditional occasions seem disrespectful of the office you are honored to hold, in my opinion.  

I also believe education and experience are important.  Perhaps I should say education + experience are important.  Just having gone to college does not ensure that you have an education, nor are people who received an education by reading and observing and working necessarily uneducated.  President Truman had very little post high school education, but he served in the military and he read.  It was his opinion that a President needed knowledge of American history, as well as world history, and he read on his own to be educated about those things.  History is difficult to teach to young students, for whom 20 years ago seems ancient, but knowledge of history is important to all of us, and it is essential to presidents.

Knowledge of the American Constitution is essential not only to every office holder but also to every American.  How can we know if those we elect are respectful of our constitution if we haven't read it?  And how can politicians do their jobs effectively if they haven't read it?

Sometimes the education and practice of certain jobs are helpful to politicians.  For many years, most of our presidents had served in the military, and I think that was a good thing.  Today, however, recent presidents have not had that training. Many presidents have been trained in the law, and that can be an asset.  An educated understanding of finance can be helpful, as well as a business management background.  We have also elected Presidents with a background in Education.

These are a few of the things I consider when I vote.  However, there is something else that seems important to me.  Whomever the person who has received the honor of election to office is, he or she should respect the dignity of the office and the honor they have been given by being elected by voters.  Of course, people who run for office must be confident of their abilities, but over confidence and arrogance are not traits that I admire.   

I read a lot of history, and even the best of presidents have had their flaws.  However, some have done remarkably well in difficult times. A few, not too well.  In a world in which our weapons are so horrible, and where the wonders of the internet include the dangers of spreading misinformation that they do, and AI is getting frighteningly capable of surpassing our human minds, we cannot elect presidents that don't measure up.