Random musings

Young presidents.... Since the turn of the 20th century, the presidents who were under 50 when they entered the office were Theodore Roosevelt, John F Kennedy, Bill Clinton, and now Barack Obama. Ole TR was the only of them who was a Republican, but he sure would be considered a liberal in today's world. The highly quotable JFK, although his term was brief and we really can't know what he would have achieved, had lots of great domestic policies. He also did a lot of good on the world stage, and would have done more had he not been embroiled in that pesky Cold War. Clinton, although plagued by scandal, brought the unemployment rate to its lowest in who knows when and gave us a balanced budget for the first time in however long.

Wouldn't it be cool if, in an effort to truly heal the wounds of the last several elections and the bitterness of blue vs. red in this country, if Pres elect Obama offered a position in his cabinet to Senator McCain? Surely, he could take advice from the man even though their politics are so different. I know, it'll never happen, but it would really be cool.

There are some schools of thought that believe a teacher should absolutely bring her politics into the classroom; it's so important to make our students engaged and interested, so we should show that we are engaged and interested. I don't follow that philosophy because, first of all, I don't want to get involved in that.... I don't want to at all be accused of trying to sway any young impressionable minds. Granted, of the students I've taught, the ones who disagree with my way of thinking aren't changing their minds no matter what I do. It's also far easier for me to play devil's advocate when they don't know what I believe. I suspect that many of my students believe I voted a particular way, but I can also think of one class that probably thinks I voted another way.

In the end, it doesn't matter. Students, their parents, and the whole country got interested in this election. That in and of itself is the historic part of this--the highest voter turnout since 1908?? Sweet. Whether someone voted/campaigned/talked to someone about candidate A or B, or did the opposite AGAINST candidate A or B... this is what makes our democracy thrive.

Eh, no real point here. Hope everyone is having a great Thursday.