Scratching my head:

It seems that this divided nation insists upon its own division. I have had one of those days that most of us have from time to time, where we mentally wrestle with a concept for an extended period of time. I almost always find myself on the conservative side of the political spectrum. What little life experience I have, and all the reasoning I posses teaches me that we need to live in a nation with limited government and a highly moral rule of law. I try not to limit my scope of thought and always consider others perspectives. I have always considered myself a conservative, and will even admit to being a republican, even as the title looses footing in the turbulent political culture. I have made a promise to myself that regardless of popular opinion, I will stay true to my principals, morals, and logic.

It has been a mentally stimulating week as I have struggled to understand the stance the right has taken toward the President of the United States of America speaking to young elementary school students. I have spent time in our elementary schools in a variety of classrooms, and I have found them nearly void of patriotism. I understand that there are thousands of elementary students and I have only worked with a few hundred of them, but regardless, I am disturbed by the presiding culture of disrespect toward all things patriotic. Our elementary school students would rather hide under their desks than stand for the pledge of allegiance. Our middle school students think they will lose stature in the eyes of their friends if they remove their hats for the national anthem. And I have even experienced high school kids who feel their GPA is too high to consider the military, as if serving our country is a job for a second class citizen. I know that there are some who blame the system and some who blame the parents a blame them both.

I hope every time you see someone fail to stand at the sound of the star spangled banner, or fail to utter the words “one nation under God” in the pledge of allegiance that you get the same sick feeling in your stomach. We build our own culture. If we express disrespect toward the office of our nations president we will reap our reward; a generation of young people with no respect toward things patriotic. I think Barack H Obama may be the worst candidate to run in the 2008 primaries. I don’t understand why so many Americans marched to the beat of hope and change into the voting booth. And because I don’t understand, I will continue to let my voice be heard in opposition of every proposed policy I believe will fail. But this I also know, that every child should have the opportunity to hear the voice of our freely elected leader. Our president is a living beacon to the world that freedom can prevail. Democracy is more than the hope of our ancestors, it is the reality of our living government. I believe in the power of the office, and its potential for good. To truly trust democracy means that you accept the elected leader and let him do his job. I may have a strong dislike for Barack Obama but as long as he holds the office of president of the United States, I would not hesitate to take a bullet or sacrifice my life in his defense. If the president wants to talk to the children then let the man speak. I believe he is capable of being the president, not just a politician. If he proves me wrong, judge him by the words he speaks, not what you fear he might say. If you insist on distrust, you insist on a divided nation.