A New Voice
A New Voice
January 20, 2009
I’ve seen a lot of credit go out to all those who made it possible for Barrack Obama to be sworn in today. One article said Jackie Robinson and the black pioneers of professional sports got the ball rolling. Another gave unusual credit to Hollywood for the number of presidential roles given to African American actors in recent years, despite the systematic exploitation of minority groups that epitomized the entertainment industry for most of its existence. From Oprah to Bill Cosby, and from Barbara Jordan to Jesse Jackson, many voices contributed to the song that will be sung today. In each slave rebellion and civil rights march the seeds of this day were sown.
There is a group, however, that seems to have been forgotten. I have not seen any credit given to them. I can’t say I’m surprised. It’s what I’ve come to expect, actually. I have yet to see anyone recognize the job that teachers have done to make this day possible.
And who has done more? Who supplemented biased history books to include more coverage of slavery? Who insisted on telling both sides of the story of western expansion across America? Who spends extra hours learning the basics of 2nd and 3rd and 4th languages in order to accommodate and include the children of immigrant families?
Unfortunately, teachers have also been agents of the oppressive majority at times, supporting the status quo and inflicting damage on nascent movements. But for every ten of these types, there is one that stands up for the future of our nation and its children. And the impact of these future-thinking teachers is heavily felt by our students. Their impression stands out against the foggy backdrop of disinterested educators who go along to get to summer vacation.
Whenever I teach history to my students, I inevitably day dream about living in another American Era. I think to myself that I’d rather see first hand a band of rebels fighting to form a nation, an industrial boom, a westward expansion, a fight to maintain national unity, a transportation revolution from trains to planes and automobiles, a noble war fought to secure freedom for the future of mankind, or an equally noble civil struggle to secure freedom for men and women within our own borders.
It took a man with an unusual name and a typically muddled American background to wake me up to the excitement of our time. His rallying call is change, his fundamental message is redemption and he begins to lead our nation at a time when the greatest challenge facing us is not a war or an economic crisis, but the very sustainability of a culture based on democracy.
Sustainability is the issue of our era, I believe. Two elements of Obama’s persona, change and redemption, are also elements of sustainability. To survive a nation must change, with change mistakes inevitably come, redemption then follows to make the mistakes of our past bearable.
The sustainability of our nation, our environment, our democracy and our culture depends on a renewed commitment by all of us to act with positive character. I’ve started this blog and this website (on this day) because I want to encourage the growth and expression of positive character in our elementary school students. This is my modest attempt to inspire positive change and redemption in our country, with eyes on a sustainable future. The redemption of a nation can start with the call of one voice, but can end, just as quickly, if there’s no reply. This is my reply, even if my voice is just a whisper.
January 20, 2009
I’ve seen a lot of credit go out to all those who made it possible for Barrack Obama to be sworn in today. One article said Jackie Robinson and the black pioneers of professional sports got the ball rolling. Another gave unusual credit to Hollywood for the number of presidential roles given to African American actors in recent years, despite the systematic exploitation of minority groups that epitomized the entertainment industry for most of its existence. From Oprah to Bill Cosby, and from Barbara Jordan to Jesse Jackson, many voices contributed to the song that will be sung today. In each slave rebellion and civil rights march the seeds of this day were sown.
There is a group, however, that seems to have been forgotten. I have not seen any credit given to them. I can’t say I’m surprised. It’s what I’ve come to expect, actually. I have yet to see anyone recognize the job that teachers have done to make this day possible.
And who has done more? Who supplemented biased history books to include more coverage of slavery? Who insisted on telling both sides of the story of western expansion across America? Who spends extra hours learning the basics of 2nd and 3rd and 4th languages in order to accommodate and include the children of immigrant families?
Unfortunately, teachers have also been agents of the oppressive majority at times, supporting the status quo and inflicting damage on nascent movements. But for every ten of these types, there is one that stands up for the future of our nation and its children. And the impact of these future-thinking teachers is heavily felt by our students. Their impression stands out against the foggy backdrop of disinterested educators who go along to get to summer vacation.
Whenever I teach history to my students, I inevitably day dream about living in another American Era. I think to myself that I’d rather see first hand a band of rebels fighting to form a nation, an industrial boom, a westward expansion, a fight to maintain national unity, a transportation revolution from trains to planes and automobiles, a noble war fought to secure freedom for the future of mankind, or an equally noble civil struggle to secure freedom for men and women within our own borders.
It took a man with an unusual name and a typically muddled American background to wake me up to the excitement of our time. His rallying call is change, his fundamental message is redemption and he begins to lead our nation at a time when the greatest challenge facing us is not a war or an economic crisis, but the very sustainability of a culture based on democracy.
Sustainability is the issue of our era, I believe. Two elements of Obama’s persona, change and redemption, are also elements of sustainability. To survive a nation must change, with change mistakes inevitably come, redemption then follows to make the mistakes of our past bearable.
The sustainability of our nation, our environment, our democracy and our culture depends on a renewed commitment by all of us to act with positive character. I’ve started this blog and this website (on this day) because I want to encourage the growth and expression of positive character in our elementary school students. This is my modest attempt to inspire positive change and redemption in our country, with eyes on a sustainable future. The redemption of a nation can start with the call of one voice, but can end, just as quickly, if there’s no reply. This is my reply, even if my voice is just a whisper.
A whisper or a scream, don't stop speaking or writing about education, specifically character education. Children must know that they can walk and not faint. They can run and not grow weary. And when given enough support, they can soar high on wings like eagles. (Isaiah 40:31)
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It sounds cliche to some, but yesterday was momentous. Parties changed, the first African-American was elected to the highest office in our nation...all of this is true. But the moment belonged to our country's youth. I hope that they are inspired by Obama's life's work, his ambition, his devotion to family, and his achievements, and I hope that parents and teachers foster and nurture that inspiration.
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