“He who brings trouble on his family will inherit the wind...”
Proverbs 11:29
This week the mass murder of Sikhs at worship in Wisconsin by a self-declared white supremacist is only the most recent outrage that might have been prevented if gun laws in America not only limited access to fire arms but also discouraged the romance and charm of gun ownership. Wisconsin alone has seen five mass murders since 2004, all with guns. By any measure and definition of deep trouble, the state of Wisconsin and indeed our nation are in crisis.
Inherit the Wind, the play at the Old Globe tonight, is a reminder that the more things change, the more they stay the same. In our regard for proper education of the young in our culture, we have not moved all that far from the “Scopes Monkey Trial.” School teachers are in trouble again, or perhaps I should say “still.” The question that comes to my mind again this week is why citizens in my city and my state, and perhaps my country, are scapegoating and punishing the very people who are charged with delivering our young people into a better, more enlightened world. School teachers are the people who can teach our children that we are all citizens of the world... that we are all members of the family of man.
During the intermission of the play tonight I was reunited with a colleague and friend, with whom I taught high school for several years; and I learned that this excellent teacher does not know in August where and if she will be teaching in September. When shall we San Diegans and Californians and Americans insist that our first priority, whatever the cost, must be the care of our youngest citizens? Whatever else we do to ensure a secure future will not be enough to make it happen if our citizens are inadequately educated.
4 comments:
My dear friend Jerral,
I did not hear about the mass murder. It is dreadful...
In Russia some people say that it is good that America lets the citizens have their own guns. It leads to order. It lets people defend themselves and that is why in America there are not many murders, robberies etc. But as I see all good brings bad with it. This is the truth of Yin and Yang.
I like your thoughts about the young people education. We all must strive for good things and we must be an example to the people who are younger. Only in this case will our planet proceed living and will become better.
Anton
"I felt a calling to teach our youngest citizens, not to mention my own. There was a national plea for our nation's professionals to share their knowledge with our students. I feel duped. I just watched Allyson Felix, a USC grad, win the 200 meter Olympic gold medal in track. She wants to follow her mom's lead and become a teacher, too. What hurdles will she face now?"
Guy
Hi Jerral,
I certainly agree that we need much more regulation of guns in our society. e.g.: Assault weapons have no place in our society except with the military or law enforcement. They are certainly not needed for "self-defense" of person or home. The gun lobby (NRA) does our country a dis-service by promoting the right to own ANY gun by our citizens. Our Founders would be appalled at the distortion, if not perversion, of their original intent.
Ron
Elizabeth wrote: "ironically, this is the main reason i quit teaching as a profession and began homeschooling. the politics of education are ridiculous; i was forever frustrated by the dearth of common sense applied to the very institution that is supposed to help facilitate the development of it. also, and i know this sounds very new agey and patchouli, but there was little (if any) importance assigned to the teachings of compassion, responsibility, communion, and integrity. and not in any religious way... just in a human way. after a certain point, i got so tired of it... and then i started to recognize signs in my own kids that their education was limited by the system they were in. i took voltaire's advice and decided to tend to my own garden. we are beginning our fourth year of homeschooling (three kids) with the support of a local charter school and it is amazing... not perfect, by any means, but amazing. this year we are planning on integrating a morning meditation (followed by the pledge) to start off the school day. i wish there was as much flexibility for other teachers out there."
Elizabeth
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