Making a Difference

I was a teacher for 38 years.  During that time, I taught or interacted with thousands of young people.  As hard as I tried, I was never quite sure if what I was doing was making any kind of difference.  Fortunately for me, I was able to see many of my former students latter on and a few would tell me how I had made a difference in their life.  Usually they would quote something I said (something I didn't even remember) or some action I had taken that helped them greatly.  It was great knowing that my  life work was really worth it.

Last night, I was attending my wife's 40th class reunion, which just happen to be my first year of teaching at the same school (I didn't meet my wife until after she graduated from college -- I know what you're thinking).  A man approached me and said "you don't know me, but you save my kids life and I just wanted to say thanks."  It turns I screened his son for learning disabilities and in the process I noted that his son might have ADDHD (Attention Deficit Disorder, Hyperactivity  Disorder).  I had a doctor friend that specialized in treating ADDHD students and I convince the father to have his son checked out.  As they say the rest is history.  Because of my screening and the doctors help, this young man graduated on time.  He now is married, has a great job and three teenage children.  The father still remembers the date of his son's first doctor appointment. I hardly remembered the event at all.  Just another day of doing my job.

Needless to say, I was very flattered by the man and thankful for his feedback.  I am sure he was giving me way too much credit.  But, it did make me feel good.  When I am King, I am going to encourage everyone to take time to thank one teacher that really made a difference -- it will help validate the efforts of so many good teachers.

Fighting For "Rats"

Recently I was reading a book about the Civil War.  Some union soldiers were questioning why some southern prisoners  were fighting to keep slavery.  One southern soldier replied he wasn't fighting for slavery, he was fighting for his "rats".  After hearing the same reply several more times, the union soldier finally realized "rats" meant rights.  So the union soldier asked him which "rats" he was fighting for.  After great though, the southern soldier couldn't come up with a suitable answer, but he was sure they were important "rats".

Think of the times you watched the news and saw some clips of rebels fighting in some third wold country.  How many of these people really know what "rats" their fighting for or even have a clue that they are being exploited by leaders who basically care only about their own self  gratification.  It doesn't even have to be a third world country, just check out our own political or religious bickering.  I am always amazed watching elderly people on television bitching about keeping the government out of their lives.  Hello -- anybody heard of Social Security or Medicare.  That seems like a government intrusion, but one that nobody wants to give up.

As I see it, a major problem is people do not know how to exercise critical thinking.  It's easy to remember and chant bumper sticker quotes.  It takes a little effort to dig beneath the surface and separate fact from fiction.  Worst yet, it is really hard to face facts that are contrary to your opinion.

When I am King, every school in American will be required to have daily critical thinking activities starting in kindergarten.  Maybe someday, people will actually know which "rats" there fighting for.

Extreme Weather

We're experiencing the worst tornado season in over 50 years.  Why??  I have a hunch it's because of global warming, aka climate change.  I know there are people out there that say God is trying to send a message.  What message would that be?  I really don't know the cause, but I prefer to trust in science.  If God was so wonderful, why do such things occur in the first place.  We're suppose to except that God has a plan, but would it be to much let everyone in on it.  Obviously, I am a non-believer.  I can't believe that a God that suppose to be all loving and powerful would allow such disasters to occur.

When I am King, I am going to add a weather course to every high school curriculum.  I want people to know why things happen, instead of trembling in fear of God every time a dark cloud appears.  I'll also make sure that the state, local, and federal government are ready to do everything humanly possible to help people recover from such disasters. 
 

Lady Lake Right Wing Newspaper

Like a lot of people living in a small town, we have a free local newspaper that is thrown on our driveway periodically.  The paper is nothing but a right wing propaganda rag.  Recently I read one article entitled, Where is Our Country Headed.  It was basically an Obama hate letter.  It was of course written by an anonymous author, one who had great difficulty with proper grammar.  What follows are a few examples of the questions or comments made about the President.  I have chosen to give my own replies in blue.

1. We are not sure where he came from. Simple answer, from Mrs. & Mr. Obama.  If it's a location you had in mind, how about Hawaii.  Check it out -- I am pretty sure it's part of the United States.
2. We know Obama has never run a business and has never had to meet payroll and still has not experienced in while trying to run our country.  Apparently being an educator disqualifies you from being president.  Of course most presidents in the last hundred years had never run a business (Nixon, Ford, Kennedy, Roosevelt, etc).  But I am pretty sure everyone in the federal government is getting their check on time.
3. Obama has never had military experience but he is in charge of the largest army in the world.    John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren, William Howard Taft, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton all lacked military experience.  Message to Moron -- it's not a requirement -- look it up.  By the way did you hear how the Obama administration managed to kill Osama bin Laden??
4. Obama has the Robin Hood Syndrome.  Take from the rich and give to the poor.  I guess that could work until there are no more rich.  First of all, Robin Hood was a good guy (read the book if you're capable).  Secondly, if you're on Social Security or receiving Medicare, I hope you will refuse it in the future because you are really spending someone else's money.  Thirdly, I am pretty sure there will always be rich people.  If you objectively look at the data (as opposed to listening to only the Fox News hate team),  you'll see that the rich have done nothing but get richer at the expense of the middle class and poor.

I could go on forever, but I think you get the point.  Hate literature is protected by the first amendment.  It's nice to know that the Citizen White Council is still alive and well in Florida. But, When I am King you'll have to sign your name to the article.  Further more, you'll be charged a fee for littering my driveway.

bin Laden Dead

Another promise kept -- Thank you President Obama.

Lady Lake & Religious Freedom

It has come to my attention that the Constitution is being threatened in Lady Lake, Florida.  For you who have never heard of Lady Lake, it is part of a retirement development known as The Villages.  The average inhabitant is about 70+ years old.  It's a great place if you love golf and living an active lifestyle.  However, it should be no surprise that it's prime tea-bag party area.  The local newspaper's favorite columnist is Ollie North, a convicted felon. It also should come as no surprise that the local city council starts every meeting  with a secular prayer.  The city council says its' prayer is not meant to favor any one religion, in spite of the fact that they usually end with, "in Jesus' name we pray".  They also claim they are doing nothing illegal,  since the meeting doesn't officially start until the prayer is completed.

Although I am not surprised by this development, since most of the residences are gun nuts, religious zealots, and war mongers, but I have found that there are also some sane people.  I play tennis with a group of guys who are surprisingly liberal.  Recently, they asked my opinion on Huckabee for President, and I issued a disclaimer that I was an atheist and I considered all right wing religious politicians as the vanguard for the American Taliban.  Instead of stoning me, they wanted to know more about my opinions.  I told them, When I am King, people will be able to express their religious beliefs freely in church and their home, but will have to keep their mouth zipped in public.  There will be no tax deductions for churches and  you will no longer be able to run for office claiming God told you to do it.  Everyone knows there is only one god -- The Golf God -- and he has plenty of bad golf swings in The Villages to keep him/her busy without taking on politics.

Locks

I live in a manufactured home in central Florida.  A big part of a manufactured home is the shed, sort of like a garage with most homes.  Every time I go to the shed I have to unlock it -- even though it is only a few feet from the main door.  It reminds why I hate locks.  Locks are sign of the society we live in -- if you don't lock it, some one will steal it.  I remember as a kid, we never locked our doors.  When I came home from college, I just walked through the front door.  I never owned a key.  Man, do I miss those days.  I remember a teacher I had tell me his philosophy on life.  He could understand how someone could kill someone in a fit of emotional rage, but he couldn't understand how someone could take something that didn't belong to him.  Basically it comes down to right and wrong.

When I am King, I'll try to make small anti-lock areas and see if I can make them expand.  Lock doors say a lot about our society -- nothing good I might add.  I hope I can get rid of locks in one small area at a time.