The last week of the school year, especially for kids in elementary school, is an exciting time. Teachers are assigning less work. Families are making summer plans, e.g., swimming lessons, trips to the library, art, picnics.
The last week of the school year, especially for kids in elementary school, is an exciting time. Teachers are assigning less work. Families are making summer plans, e.g., swimming lessons, trips to the library, art, picnics.
Forty years ago this week, duirng the last week of school, I remember waking up to find my mother with tears in her eyes. She had just heard that Sen. Robert F. Kennedy had been shot in Los Angeles.
Earlier that year our family had driven sixty miles to see Sen. Eugene McCarthy arrive at the airport in the state's capital city. We watched as he got off the plane and I even made eye contact with him as he rode by in the "motorcade". This was too cool. We had seen a candidate for president, in the flesh.
If my memory is correct, my dad supported the candidacy of Sen. McCarthy. My dad was more of an openly anti-war guy. He had a map of Viet Nam on his office door. My mom, on the other hand, supported Sen. Kennedy. She was probably no less anti-war than my dad. Her brother flew missions over Viet Nam and I'm sure she prayed for his safety.
My folks taught me something important that year. They disagreed about whom to support, but they did so civilly. No name calling. No character assassination. No sarcasm.
Thanks.
Old Guys Remember.
cross-posted at http://www.old-guys-rock.blogspot.com