Letters to the Editor
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A Vacation from the Truth?
While I don't like to wallow in gloom n' doom, and I try to give my sons a sense of optimism about their own futures, I can't totally disagree with the LW regarding the state of the nation, the state of the world.
With the exception of certain geographic "pockets," this country, as a whole, has been an astoundingly (to me) anti-intellectual society. I'm not the first to say it, nor will be the last, but the hypocrisy surrounding the blatherings about "education," the attention paid to pop culture, the paucity of reason and logic governing national policies here and abroad, the cowardice in kowtowing to religious sects, the head-in-the-sand reaction to the complexities of global events--all of these speak to a lack of true leadership, which should be based on an in-depth understanding of the issues that have been facing this country and will continue to face us for decades, if not centuries.
Perhaps LW can inspire his daughter to think about these issues and prepare herself to take a leadership role in one of the areas in which leadership and clear thinking are so badly needed. He can observe her strengths and talents and mentor her to become perhaps a scientist like himself, or seek another career in which she can act as a competent voice of reason.
I know that my own skepticism and pessimism about these things can drive me to despair. Yes, it's true that a vacation can help to ease the mind. But, for goodness' sake, we certainly don't want the LW to put his own head in the sand of a sunny Bermuda beach and pretend these things aren't happening.
So, LW, sure, take your vacation, really, allow yourself to relax, and then think about how you can pass on your own legitimate concerns to your daughter, but without scaring her into helpless gloom n' doom. Rather, try to inspire her to become someone who can face the realities and perhaps help to do something to truly benefit the world in which she's growing up.
Good luck.