Hail to the Chief

By Dani Greer

Today is Presidents Day in the United States. Or is it Presidents’ Day? Or maybe it should be President’s Day because, in fact, what was once termed Washington’s Birthday, is still Washington’s Birthday. Though the Uniform Monday Holiday Act created numerous three-day weekends, it never passed to include more than one president on this particular day. It was actually a term coined by department store advertisers who discovered that the generic-sounding holiday sold more inventory than the father of the country! Sadly, many Americans may enjoy an extra day off and get a bargain at a sale, but few will really honor the intent of the holiday.

I’ve been thinking a lot about presidents lately, mostly because of the remarkable turmoil surrounding a few of them in recent years. I grew up the child of an Army officer, and learned early to respect the Commander-in-Chief. It didn’t matter who that person was, or of which party — respect for the office was built into my upbringing. It was tacitly understood that a strong Army depended upon a strong leadership, and that meant the troops acted respectfully and so did their families. It was as simple as that.

There was a time in our history when leaders, especially presidents, were held in such high esteem that families put photographs of them on their living room walls, as though they were part of the family. I always thought that was a bit curious, until the last election when for the first time in my life, I felt a sense of connection with the Obama family that really was akin to a kind of love and admiration one might assign to a dear friend or family member. The election was a marker event in my life. It was the first time a black man and a woman were both considered viable presidential candidates. As a woman who grew up during the civil rights and women’s liberation movements, this moment in time was historic for me. It was a first in the country's history and I fully realized the enormity of it.

I’m not the only person who was thus impacted by the 2008 election. Novelist, Susan Wittig Albert, penned a personal memoir to mark her 69^th year.  The book juxtaposed the astounding events of the election against her own life as a writer and conservationist in the Texas Hill Country. When the University of Texas Press published An Extraordinary Year of Ordinary Days, no one could have guessed what a fascinating historic record it would eventually become. Click here to read an excerpt.

Rana DiOrio, founder of Little Pickle Press, was inspired by the election in a profound and positive way, too. When asked for a reaction to the election results, she simply states, “I cried.” But it also gave her the impetus to write her first children’s book in order to share conversations about the world and events with her own children. This is how What Does It Mean To be Global? was inspired and eventually born, and along with it a publishing company.

Discussing world events and politics and, yes, even presidents, is an important part of teaching our children to be good citizens. How do you model proper behavior to them? Do you bandy about insults about politicians, thinking your kids aren’t paying attention? Or do you use the news to create informative conversation at the dinner table, discussing current events and weaving them into discussions of your own views and values? 

I would urge you to think about the example you set for the youngsters in your family. It’s vital that young people learn the interpersonal skills that allow them to become strong citizens. It’s equally important that they learn the importance of strong leadership to the success of a nation. Please think about these things, and consciously plant the seeds that will grow your little pickles into good citizens. It starts in your home and ends in a better world for us all.

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