Out of the Mouths of Babes

My house has been filled with heated conversations lately. Passion, frustration and anger have been frequent visitors in the car and around the dinner table as we discuss current events: namely, the country's reaction to President Obama's school address and a certain YouTube video of school children singing a song espousing the merits of our new president. I have been amazed at the uproar and backlash by these things and, more importantly, by the reactions I have witnessed in people.

This post is not going to be about me. It is going to be about my daughter, my kind and wise ten year-old daughter who listens intently when her dad and I discuss issues, who asks questions and tries to understand and vocalizes her own opinions in an attempt to make sense of the world around her.

I told her about the song video. I explained in very neutral terms what had happened -- simply that a school had an assembly during Black History month to sing about our newly inaugurated president. I told her some of the lyrics and asked her what she thought of them. She pointed out that she wouldn't mind singing it, because she likes President Obama. However: "But what about all of those kids who liked John McCain? They probably don't think President Obama is a good president. Did they have to sing it, too?"

Exactly, my dear. Exactly.

I told her that a lot of people across the country were very upset with the Democrats and with President Obama because of the song.

"But, Mom, it was ONE school. And it wasn't like President Obama asked the kids to sing it! I don't see what the big deal is."

Exactly, my dear. Exactly.

A later conversation stemming from the song video involved the president's school address from a few weeks back. Chris and I were discussing it and the reactions it received among conservative parents. Hayley didn't understand why the president couldn't address school kids. We explained that some people thought he would have a political message hidden in his talk. We explained that some people, quite simply, didn't like our new president and didn't want their kids exposed to him.

"Why?" she asked.

We went through all of the reasons. Differing political points of view. He's too liberal. Differing religious points of view. He's not Christian enough. She listened politely. Intently.

We mentioned his ethnicity and she about went through the roof.

"What? People don't like him because he's black? But, Mom, that's what the Civil Way was about. And that was fought over a hundred years ago! Who cares what color his skin is!!"

Exactly, my dear. Exactly.