Kids, Today's Lesson Is "Fear the Other"

So, President Obama thought he'd launch the schoolyear with a message to the nation's children. What a great idea, I thought to myself. After all, I grew up spending schooltime writing letters to the president, hearing letters from him read in class.

But apparently some people think this is an outrage. That somehow President Obama plans to use his "air time" to foist a nefarious political agenda on innocent kids. Frankly, I can't bother being outraged over their outrage. I'm too busy being heartsick about it.

Has it come to this? Are we a nation so divided that the president of the country, a man legally elected to lead us, can't talk to the nation's kids? It's horrifying and heartbreaking. But here's the saddest, most painful part: Those kids whose parents object to the speech are learning a lesson anyway. A big one and it's this:

Kids, fear anyone who isn't One of Us. Because it's Us against Them, and you are first and foremost one of us, and only secondarily and occasionally an American citizen (and then only when it's convenient to Us).

Got that?

Another Update on Jack McAuliffe

For those of you who are following along: Jack is now in San Antonio, living with family. Good news, that, because he can't quite live on his own yet. As near as I can tell, he's back to his usual feisty self (at least based on several e-mails I've had from him recently). Bare minimum, he's sick of people fussing over him (not, ahem, that anyone plans to stop doing so). He told me he wants to have a t-shirt printed that says

Thanks for your concern, but I'm not disabled- I'm just crippled.

Anyway . . . He has a ways to go before he's fully recovered, but he's doing okay.

Alcohol and Exercise

This just in from Astute Reader Dexter, our man-not-on-the-beach in Hawaii. As a one-woman walking/talking guinea pig, I concur. (I drink alcohol every day and exercise five to six days a week.) (Currently dealing with a truly nasty case of swimmer's elbow, I might add.) (No! Not drinking elbow. Swimmer's elbow.)

Senator Kennedy and "Legacies"

I grew up in a "Kennedy" household, so Senator Kennedy's death has been much on my mind --- along with memories of his two older brothers. Pretty much anything that's needed to be said has been said, although of course that won't stop me from making two points.

First: The "end of an era"? I don't think so. In many ways, I think we're only beginning to see the fruits of the Kennedy "legacy" that has unfolded over the past thirty years. Think of all the contributions from women who no longer need to think "No, I can't," and are passing that idea on to their own kids.

From every African-American who thought "Yes, I can" --- and made sure the next generation did, too.

From all those kids who didn't die in Viet Nam and so helped raise the next generation.

From every person who lived in a wheelchair, found doors that opened, and so were able to contribute to the world's well-being.

My second point is more of a question: How many of the nation's elected officials --- senators, representative, state legislators, governors --- watched all those thousands of people file past the coffin and wait hours for the hearse and stand outside the church, and, as they watched, asked themselves

If I die tomorrow, will anyone wait hours to see my body? Will anyone stand at attention as my hearse passes by? Will thousands of people who never met me mourn my death? Am I a leader who strives for the good of all, or am I working only for the enrichment of myself? And which is the mark of greatness?

Urgh, Um, Blushing Like Mad

Well, since I dragged Tim's name into this --- I owe it to him to make sure he gets heard. So read his full comment here. Scurrying away now to blush. (I don't deal well with compliments. . .) (Childhood thing.)

Drive-by Posting No. 387

Not really. I mean, yes, this is a drive-by posting. But it's not number 387.

I'm still off on my fishing expedition (ie, writing the new book). (WHY do I keep referring to it in terms of fishing? I've never been fishing in my life.)

Anyway --- slow blogging will continue until such time as I've broken the kneecaps of the current chapter. And waded through the 79 books and 300 articles and all the primary research for this chapter. This would be SO much easier if I didn't have to, ya know, do research. If I could just make up some random facts. But it is what it is, and I'm going back to it now.

By the way: what the hell happened to summer? One minute it was here; the next minute the trees are turning yellow. Sigh.