Speaking Out

I just have to say something (as usual). I’m torn between two things lately: On the one hand, I have a great deal of concern for the incredible dumbing down of America, especially by the public school systems in large cities. Please understand that I’m not writing specifically of our local school system, but of the average in the nation. I also have a great concern for the rewriting of history books (again). But the decrees defining “acceptable” performance (or not) come from on high, from bureaucrats who seem often to have less common sense than the children they’re responsible for educating. These decrees affect all our public schools, and indeed the future of us all.

 I just have to say something (as usual). I’m torn between two things lately:

On the one hand, I have a great deal of concern for the incredible dumbing down of America, especially by the public school systems in large cities. Please understand that I’m not writing specifically of our local school system, but of the average in the nation. I also have a great concern for the rewriting of history books (again). But the decrees defining “acceptable” performance (or not) come from on high, from bureaucrats who seem often to have less common sense than the children they’re responsible for educating. These decrees affect all our public schools, and indeed the future of us all.

What was once considered completely unacceptable scholastic performance is now praised with relief. If children are not encouraged to strive for excellence, where is the example? In some schools, as long as few fights break out and everyone is relatively quiet, it’s considered a good day. Scholastic, ethical, and moral mediocrity seems to be the norm (as in, “It’s only bad if I get caught”). Pregnant teenagers are no longer looked at in some cities as a problem. I just don’t get it.

Plenty of kids find it necessary to attend junior and community colleges for remedial classes, because no child can be left behind. So they graduate without the goods to back it up. And they didn’t go an alternate route to learn a worthwhile trade they might be suited for. This all adds fuel to the fire of those who claim that some of our public school systems are no more than day care centers. A year or so of community college may bring a student up to the level of a graduating high school senior (sometimes just BARELY graduating).

It’s not only the kids who are satisfied with less. Look at what many adults are watching on television. Have you ever checked out reality T.V.? I’m rather ashamed to admit that I have. It’s like a train wreck; you just can’t look away. But eventually you do, or you get sucked in forever to a black hole from which you may never return. Is this the best we have to offer? Has anyone else noticed that the quality of the moving picture industry has also gone south markedly? They’re spending more and I’m enjoying it less. And the “celebrities” our kids look up to — Wow. What a bunch of losers, most of them. I must sound like my parents did when I was young.

Part 2

So here I am thinking that there is simply no hope for this country (and perhaps there is not, considering the economy and other enormous problems). I’m lamenting our downfall, watching politicians fiddle while proverbial Rome burns. Then low and behold, regular people, normal folks like you and me, start standing up for themselves at town meetings and in various other venues. I say “Bravo.” It’s about time. (Whether or not it will eventually make any difference is uncertain.) This country was built on protest, free thinking, and free speech. Long ago the founders of the United States stood up for their principles and their needs. I’m certain there was plenty of stupidity, graft and corruption even then, but communication wasn’t instantaneous as it is now. It wasn’t nearly as easy for people to air their dirty laundry or sordid affairs or unclothed bodies on the Internet for all to see. It wasn’t quite as easy back then to find out whose husband was cheating on which wife or mistress or who was a lesbian or which male politician solicited sexual favors in public toilets.

We’re a more informed public now, thanks to this same media. Hopefully America isn’t as dumb as I had once feared. As a large men’s clothing warehouse slogan claimed for years, “An educated consumer is our best customer.” The same could be paraphrased now. “An educated citizen is our best citizen” — and the one who is better prepared to make decisions that will affect his or her future.

Why don’t politicians applaud the participation of individuals now, their questions, their involvement? Well, duh, because they don’t really want us to do anything but agree with them.

Protests began long before my time, but DURING my time, I have experienced a few. From what I can see, the free expression of opinions never hurt any forum. (It’s best done with respect and dignity, but that applies to both sides, even when one side may be the President or the government or any of its long arms. Most of all, no one wants another Kent State.) One of our First Amendment Rights is free speech. I’d like to see a politician try to tell me I don’t know what’s good for ME. I expect all of you feel the same way.

Part 3

So we don’t want government dictated health care forced down their throats. Good for us. Many have found the courage to question and complain, to say not only “NO” but “HELL NO.” Finally folks are speaking out instead of just going along and thinking, “Well, if the government says it’s good for us, it must be OK.” We’ve all been duped by politicians long enough to be wary and suspicious of them. You know that old saying, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on ME.” How many times must we be promised things and the promises blatantly broken? How many times must we be lied to? How many times must we hear a politician swear to a belief or action only to look back in easily attainable public records to find he or she claimed exactly the opposite when it suited his or her purpose? Do they think we’re too stupid to notice? (This is why God invented investigative journalists.) What astonishes me is that the great unwashed masses (this includes me) took so long to speak up. Were we unconscious? Too trusting? Too tired? Too busy? Were we completely stupid? Well, better late than never. I hope it’s a trend.

So we don’t want a vaccine forcibly injected into our bodies because the government says we must. No way will they put that stuff into me! Finally people are standing up for themselves. Hoo-freaking-ray! What surprises me is that it took so long. I have often been suspicious of many of the forced vaccinations we give our children, and the flu shots “recommended” by the government. Speak to your trusted physician (assuming you have one in this day and age, someone who knows you and whom you know). Ask your doctor what he or she recommends for you personally. Ask about safety. Then make the decision with your physician or health care professional.

Anyone with a brain knows that some big business somewhere is making a load of money off immunizations. So prove to me that I need it. And prove to me that it’s safe. And be forthcoming about the possible side effects (if the vaccine has been tested well enough to know such things). I can assure you from statistical history that one person in a million will get Guillain-Barre Syndrome from flu vaccine. Give me the facts and the statistics, and let me decide for myself which risk I wish to take. Let me make my own gamble, with the advice of my physician. Don’t tell me I’m too dumb to decide. The medical community has been forcing us to make many of our own medical decisions for years now — so physicians and hospitals can avoid malpractice suits.

And don’t tell me I am too stupid to know what I want for my children. Thank goodness many school districts and parents said “no thanks” to the offer of a 30 minute or more speech by the President piped into schools, interrupting classes. I expect the President’s advisors NEVER expected even a whimper over this one.

They are so out of touch with the suspicion that’s growing in this country against government. And did they not think that someone might look back to see that Democrats were up in arms when President George Bush Senior did the same thing back in the 90s, made a speech to all public school children? Some people thought Obama’s speech was innocent enough (and perhaps it was. Or perhaps in the final form, after all the protests registered — and maybe the speech writers tweaked it — it was. Did propaganda exist in the original version? Maybe some subliminal message? I have no idea. The point is that people finally realized they had a CHOICE and didn’t follow like sheep or ask, “How high” when told to jump.

Isn’t it about time?

(Gene Ellis, Ed.D is a Bosque County resident who returned to the family farm after years of living in New Orleans, New York, and Florida. She is an artist who holds a doctoral degree from New York University and is writing a book about the minor catastrophes of life.)