“We learn by looking and listening, and then by practicing and doing. We teach by example.”
A local elementary school principal always picks up a dropped paper, and gives it to a student to throw away. She reminds a parent to park only in authorized parking spaces. This is teaching by example. I pick up trash now. She taught me something. It has become a way of thinking and I feel good about myself.
In contrast, someone said, “It is only difficult to do a really bad or unlawful thing, the first few times. After that it gets easier and easier.”
President Donald Trump pulls kids away from their parents. He has made this accepted practice. Our U.S. presidents are role models for our children and the world. Trump is teaching us by trumpeting that it is “OK” to be cruel, demeaning, vindictive, vicious and untruthful.
Trump has rendered conscientious and nice people so afraid of the consequences of defecting that they give up their values, truth, and self-respect, in the face of this powerful man, a man who is causing moral, judicial, constitutional and political chaos.
The elementary school principal is an example of teaching respect for rule and law. The paper that we need to pick up is a ballot to vote. I shall not tell anyone how to vote, but you must take the time to think about the outcome and the consequences to this nation, its children and the “truth” when you vote for president and seats in Congress.
Denise Pinardi
Montague