SHOULD A PARENT SHIELD THEIR CHILD FROM INFO THEY LEARN IN SCHOOL?

[DevBer]

On the radio talk show, I heard a father saying he didn't want his children exposed to "Obamagasm", with all the glee and happiness of Obama's inauguration. They were ging to have assemblies to watch his speech, etc. and were going to talk about it, and bring up issues of race and he felt that was wrong. Then, later, I went to a meeting where there were only white women there, (all very intelligent), and mentioned what I heard on the radio. One answer was, "Of course it's wrong for schools to take sides like that. Why should they make such a big thing when a democrat gets into office when they didn't do the same when Bush was inaugurated?" So, I made a speech in front of the group with my answer. What would your answer have been?

[Ken]

One rational response is to point out it's not "taking sides" to recognize and celebrate a milestone in our history. Making students aware of such historic moments would be silly and we celebrate milestones all the time. If you live in Texas you might ask them to invite Wallace Jefferson to speak at their school. He's the Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. He's a Republican, elected state-wide by Texas voters. And, he's African-American. I saw him about a week before the inaugural and he said there's something wrong with anyone who can't recognize and celebrate this moment. (So, sometimes Republicans are right.)

I think the best response to to turn off talk radio, ignore the few angry voices, and enjoy the historical moment. There is always someone who wants to keep everyone else from being happy. Some losers will always want to take away the joy of the winner's accomplishments.

Minorities in America (racial, religious, women, etc) are used to the idea that someone different from them is in charge. Tuesday, those of us who had always been the ruling class got our first real taste of having someone else in charge. Most of us realized that Obama may not look just like us but he thinks more like us that George W. Bush so the change was superficial (but still something to celebrate). Other see the change as a threat.

This is a tough time for some people. They thought that people like themselves would always be in charge. Remaining in charge validates themselves and their worldview. America's embrace of Obama is a powerful message. I believe that one of the reasons that Obama's election was celebrated around the world is that it confirmed the end of the colonial mentality of Western Europeans running the world. To some, America was the shining example of the west. If America would follow a black man then the opportunity to rise to the top is there for someone of any color in any country. It's clear there's nothing special about having white skin. Frankly, that's the only claim to being special some of these people had.

[DevBer]

I don't know you, but I think you are an amazing man.

[Ken]

Here's a better story. An 83-year-old South Bend man missed his bus home from Obama’s inauguration because he was dancing with some young women he met. Mussa Muhammad said his "spirit jumped sky-high" and he "just danced and danced". His tour group waited five hours for him, but gave up after tour speaking with his wife who assured them that he would be all right.
Isn't that better than some pissed off dad? This is the miracle of the Obama inauguration. Not that Mr. Muhammad's, spirit soared or that he danced for hours. It's that his wife didn't kill him for dancing with younger women. If she can forgive him I think the rest of us can get along.

[DevBer]

I love your conclusion. Remarkable and, frankly, funny. Great sense of humor!