While most of my articles center on parenting and education related issues, this event has direct ties to parenting and education. It included the 1st father and son presidents in 172 years, and the first time that a Presidential Library has been dedicated while the president’s father was still alive. During his speech George W. Bush said that “his dad taught him how to be a president – but first he taught him how to be a man.” You could tell that Bush had great respect and admiration for his dad as he got emotional while referring to him during his talk.
The thing that struck me most by the ceremony as I watched via television (as most Americans did) was the peacefulness and polite calm about the day. It was if every person who spoke…….said nice things about each other and constantly said how proud they were to serve this country and work with other’s to make it a great place to work and live. Anyone viewing the ceremony who had no idea of the current climate of our government – and how divided we are would think that the United States is currently united as one people; and work together to solve its nations issues with dignity, respect, and compassion.
Now I am not saying that we are to be naïve enough to believe that a presidential library dedication is how our society should (or could) act in reality. But I am saying that I was so proud to be an American today while watching our leaders conduct themselves in such an honorable way that would make anyone proud as a human being. And as a veteran it especially reinforced my belief that my sacrifice to this country was not in vain. And to students young and old that’s an education for all of us! Let’s get back to making this country the great nations that it once was – and that will only happen when we begin to respect and honor each other’s differences but move forward by solving them with love. God Bless America!