It's been an interesting couple of days. Lots of phone calls happening and an interesting conversation with my teens this evening.
First, I received a call from Mac's Marketing teacher yesterday. I admit.. as soon as he identified himself as a teacher from Mac's school my first thought was "what's wrong with Mac", followed closely by "what did he do?" Mr. teacher assured me almost immediately that this was "not a bad call." (LOL) He wanted to call because Mac and his partner had scored the highest EVER in a marketing simulation program that they use in their class. He wanted me to know that my son was a very bright and polite young man. He said that he expected to see great things from Mac in the future. WOW! It was an amazing pleasure to receive that type of phone call from a teacher. Especially one of Mac's teachers. I am so pleased and proud of how well Mac has been doing this year at school... it's nice to know the teachers are noticing too.
I've also been making calls, trying to line up three tests for me this month. I want to be sure that I am eligible to apply for the RN program this June, rather than having to wait for the spring. So I need to CLEP out of Biology 103 and I need a math and english placement test. I think I can finish up the rest of the pre-reqs this summer. It's been busy, but I think I have a plan now.
Received a call regarding Kendra's surgical records from 1998. They are not where we expected them to be, so I have a whole new avenue to pursue. I hope that we find them soon. 
Finally... tonight the kids and I went to the Bowling Alley to bowl and have dinner. Unbeknownst to us, it's League night and we couldn't bowl, but we ate dinner there anyway.
glitter-graphics.comWe got on the topic of Mr. Obama's speech for tonight. While discussing what's gone on thus far in his presidency... Mac and Kim made a few observations. I don't know that I completely agree with them.. but I found their viewpoint had merit (considering what I've read on some blogs and in some papers).
Mac started off by saying that during the election period he (Mac) felt very strongly that the United States was ready for an African-American president. He thought that race relations had come a long way. But since Mr. Obama has taken office, Mac no longer feels that as a country we are ready for an Af-Am president. He says that if we truly were, we could disagree with his policies without being immediately labeled "haters" and "racists". He said that if we truly were at a point where color no longer made a difference, then the pro-Obama groups would not be using this simplistic tact (calling folks racist) to stop negative remarks about government policies.
Kim agreed, adding that she thinks their generation is probably the first generation where there is very little thought about race when making friends and dating. (I don't know that I completely agree with that.... but this was their view). She says that while my generation had certainly made strides...we still see color. She thinks that many folks voted for Obama to be part of something historic. And while that is not a bad thing, that also shows we are not quite ready. They both think that it may be a while yet before America can truly vote for the "content of character" and not the color of skin.
I do not believe that I would have put that much thought into the presidency at their age, so I'm impressed and hopeful of the future voters of America.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Phone Call and Dinner Conversations
Posted by Estela at 4:14 PM
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2 comments:
What did he do?
Oh ye of little faith in your own child.....but yeah, I guess parents think that often enough, sometimes quite correctly.
I think we are as ready as we are going to ever be for a black president because I do not believe we will ever become so personally evolved, meaning every last American, to eradicate prejudice. If we waited for that, we'd have The White House totally white forevermore. ~Mary
ps I do know people who overcompensate just because they do not want to be seen as prejudice. A couple of people I know did not vote for Obama but kept saying they were going to. One of them I suspected was not going to, due to personal conversations she had with me. I questioned her on it & she said she worked with a lot of black people & didn't want them to think she was prejudice.
I find that silly. I don't personally know anyone who is black & feels all people who didn't vote for Obama are prejudice.
Good for Mac and his Marketing class! I cracked up that you asked his teacher, "What did he do?" :)
I think it's wonderful that you were able to have such a thoughtful conversation with your kids about the election. However, I have to agree with Mary on this one. As you know, I am a supporter of President Obama, and my vote had nothing to do with race...it was a very thoughtful process (and longer than you might think) and included reading both of his books and numerous articles in print and online.
While I believe that there really are many haters and racists out there, I don't feel that anyone who opposes Obama's policies and ideas is automatically a hater or a racist. My Dad is neither, and is one of the most reasonable and kind people I know, but he doesn't like Obama's agenda. We sometimes argue about things, but Dad is willing to concede a point here and there, and says that he now supports Obama, as he is his Commander in Chief.
I believe we were without a doubt ready for an African-American President, as long as he was qualified and/or a leader. Some doubt that Obama is qualified, but I think he's already proven that he is a leader. Other countries have been way ahead of us in this regard of minorities or women in places of power (Indira Gandhi? Margaret Thatcher? Angela Merkel? Etc., etc.), and I'm glad to see us dragged into the future, even if there's a little bit of kicking and screaming as a result.
Whoops! Probably a little too long. :) Hugs, Beth
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