What We Tell Our Children

When Jimmy Carter lost to Ronald Reagan, I was in the fourth grade.  That night, I cried.  I cried because I liked President Carter, and to my little 9 year old heart I felt bad that Amy Carter would have to move out of the White House.

Tonight, as it moved into the darkest part of morning, it became painfully clear that a Trump presidency was no longer a possibility, but an absolute certainty. As we wait for the Sun to rise and wrestle with the need for sleep, the issue, as I scrolled through my feed for many parents rests in what to tell their children in the morning.  

As a politics obsessed mother of two, I was so eager to get my girls looped into the years election.  But, as the cycle droned on it became a challenge. There were times when the topics were just not age appropriate for my girls.  But, we can't hide it all from them. So eventually they caught wind of the many foibles and flaws of then candidate Donald Trump.  And now we have to face their shining faces in a few hours with an explanation that will equip them with truth and yet not destroy their faith in our country.  

So to the families that are wrestling with this, here are a few ideas to help you shape that important conversation.  

1.  Loosing is hard.  But, that should never stop us from trying again.  We don't give up. In four years, we will get another chance to vote for the President of the United States.  In the meantime, we do our best to be our best.

2.  What is right and what is wrong has not changed.  When someone who is acting badly wins - that does not mean that their behavior was/is right.  Eventually we all reap what we have sown. We need to keep listening to that little voice, our conscience, and act accordingly.  

3.  Adults can be afraid too.  Many Americans yesterday, went and voted for Donald Trump because they are afraid. They fear that we, as a country, have been making mistakes that are hurting us.  So, they voted for what they believe is a better future.  We simply may not agree on how to make our future better.  

4.  People can love this country but not agree with each other.  We are all different in so many ways and our ability to agree should never stop us from working together and respecting each other.

5.  The majority isn't always right.  Between you and me (Mom, Dad) history is rich in examples of the herd mentality gone wrong.  Again, we need to listen to our conscience.  There will be times when we need to stand alone, firmly on what we believe despite the voices that surround us.  This little lesson should be familiar to all of us.  Remember.....if all of your friends were going to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you jump off too?

6.  Depending on the age of your child, this might also be a good time for a tiny civics lesson - with a focus on citizen participation.  Explain, that they can write letters (send e-mails) to their representatives if they don't like something.  Introduce them to the concept of a petition.  

7.  Remind them that we don't just need good leaders to make this country great. We make this country great, with every kind gesture and act of charity we do. We start by loving and caring for our neighbors and neighborhood.  

Most importantly, they will look to us. They will listen to what we are saying and watch how we react.  Children hear what we say,. But, they focus more intently on what we do and how we do it.  So they will be listening....they will be watching.  And above all, be honest.  Integrity and truthfulness have been such a hot topic during this campaign.  Let them see the truth in you.  Because, when things aren't going your way, it is great to know you can trust your parents.  

Don't Be So Predictable

The myriad of misery that we are confronted with on a daily basis is one very large tangled mess. Every morning before my feet hit the floor, I check my phone and read through all the news tweets that have pushed through to my phone overnight.  And, it has been a long time since I was greeted with good news.  A bit later in the morning I click onto Facebook, and the news gets even worse.  How?  Scrolling through my newsfeed, I see one predictable reaction after the other.  If only the solution to all of this incessant madness were as easy to obtain as your status update was to post.

To know me, is to know that I do enjoy Social Media.  However, the events of the first week of July, this Summer, had me disturbed to the point where words escaped me.  I went silent on Social Media.  And when I finally did post something, it was a picture. Then a day or so later I posted the prayer of St. Francis.  The persistent onslaught of anguish and agony in this world is not something that can be boiled down into a meme. These issues deserve our reflection and serious consideration. It simply drives me insane that we are so flippant, so absolutely glib about issues that seem to have us completely off course.

The world we live in gets smaller and smaller. We learn about international issues as soon as they occur.  On  the evening of July 21,  as my husband and I left NYC, headed to upstate NY, story in Turkey began to unfold.  There were tons of moving pieces and a lot we did not know. As I was the passenger and had the great "fortune" of NYC Friday commuter traffic, I began to look into the issue a bit deeper.  By the time we got to our destination, we had a better handle on what was happening and where it might be headed.  We didn't draw any immediate conclusions.  It would have been easy to be outraged that an army would do this to its leader when he was away.  Given my husbands families history with Turkey, we could have easily cheered them on, hoping for the destruction of Turkey.  But you see Turkey is important for countless reasons. There is nothing simple when it comes to Turkey.

We need to stop and grapple. But we don't.  We are so hell-bent on proving our position right that we fail to dig beyond the surface. I the thrust of Olympic excitement, as I was scrolling through Twitter, I was stupefied, we had managed to politicize an Olympic Event.  Ginny Thrasher, on day one of the Summer Olympics, captured gold in the 10-meter air rifle event.  She not only won the event, she set an Olympic Record.  But, suddenly all of the NRA sympathizers were giddy and propping her up to fortify their gun positions.  Yet, based on her recent interviews  - she believes that the controversy surrounding gun control in our country distract from her sport. Days later Gabby Douglas underwent intense scrutiny for failing to place her hand over heart during the medal ceremony as the U.S National anthem played.  Have we only one lens through which we see the world?

As this election has droned on, I hear one thing that all sides of the aisle agree on...everyone is sick of politics. Yet, everyday I see countless political posts and they seem to grow as we draw closer to November 8. And the sad thing is, half of these posts are riddled with inaccuracies. I don't care if you are "with her" or you want "to make America great again" - take a moment to ensure your posting is accurate.  And don't be so predictable.  If the way you see the world, or your lens hasn't changed in 20 years, you are not a thinker. You are in a rut.

A Rant: Think Before You Speak and Other Lessons Trump Could Learn From My Mother

In 1971, I was born into a role that would require to me to exercise discretion. The expectation would be that, just because I heard it, doesn't mean I repeat it.  You see my Father was a Pastor. Living in his home, being by his side I heard and saw a lot through the years. People would entrust him with their deepest concerns and struggles. And there were times when on occasion I would become aware of such things. And I never said a single word.  Why? Because my mother as a mantra always said...

THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK

Now, as I grew older my sister and I would have a tendency as all sisters do, to fight and bicker.  Those fights would on occasion, boil over into one of us saying something hurtful to the other.    We would each justify our positions and my mother was having none of it.  She would admonish us by saying .....

KEEP YOUR WORDS SWEET BECAUSE ONE DAY YOU MAY HAVE TO EAT THEM

As I grew older and my opinions grew as quickly as I did.  I would always share my thoughts freely.  In my younger years I never curated my thoughts. I would share them as bluntly and as truthfully as I believed them.  I actually thought this was the upstanding thing to do. I had no idea that maybe people would be receptive if I listened more, measured my words more, and tempered them more. Again, my mother could be heard in my head saying....

CONSIDER YOUR AUDIENCE

All this to say I think Donald Trump could use my mother on his team of advisers.  Donald Trump is a very well educated man with a deep history of conducting his business in the public eye.  Over the course of the last 12 months, we have heard him say things that are sensational and sometimes out of line.  At times those comments are walked back and other times they are justified. I truly believe we need to create a new word to describe the level of audaciousness we have seen out of Mr. Trump.

Yesterday, I was on my way to dinner and I as I scooted through Rock Center an alert popped up on my phone.  I stopped, stepped aside and gave the audio of Donald Trump a listen. I was gobsmacked.  I simply could not believe what I was hearing. To me, what he said, was indisputable.  Hours later, as I headed home, I was thumbing through the Twitterverse and there they were  - justification after justification.  I knew what I had heard.  And I must agree with a commentator I heard this morning. In essence the concern is that the rhetoric coming out of the Trump campaign, when he wonders off script, is very much like Texas in the early 1960's.  And we all know how that turned out.

The sad part is, I believe that Donald Trump is a smart man. I even think there could be an inspiring vision for America under all of that bluster.  But, we will never know. Why? Because Donald Trump can't keep his foot out of his mouth. He is up to his knee cap by now.  And you can't blame the media...They are simply reporting what he said...This brings me to another thing my mother used to say...

DON'T BLAME OTHERS FOR HOW YOU REACT TO THEIR ACTIONS

Yet, how many times have we heard about Donald Trumps twitter activity in response to one thing or another.  This world is a ticking time bomb and so much weighs in the balance. The complexity of which requires a very unique skill set.  Jon Meacham, George HW Bush biographer, said this morning on Morning Joe...the future president of the United States needs three things...

PROPORTION

HUMILITY

DIGNITY

We really must ask ourselves at this point, is a vote for Trump worth the risk.  This isn't just a buyer beware situation.  We are aware of his failings and foibles.  Are they acceptable? Is he our voice? Can we as a nation absorb the consequences should this behavior persist?   Will we still gain things as a nation despite his lack of self-control. Oh and just for the record, I don't subscribe to the conspiracies that he does this to just keep his name in the news. And as a parent, I am not freaking out that my child will speak just as dis-respectfully as he does because they see "Trump do it."  I'm the parent oh my children. But what I do believe is that out of all the Presidents I have known in my short lifetime none of them have been us verbally unhinged as he is. I also know, that never in my lifetime, has the world been at such a boiling point.  I would just ask Donald Trump two questions - 1) Do you really want this job?  2) If so, would you please give my mother a call from time to time?  She really helped me out, quite a lot.

A Rant: Think Before You Speak and Other Lessons Trump Could Learn From My Mother

In 1971, I was born into a role that would require to me to exercise discretion. The expectation would be that, just because I heard it, doesn't mean I repeat it.  You see my Father was a Pastor. Living in his home, being by his side I heard and saw a lot through the years. People would entrust him with their deepest concerns and struggles. And there were times when on occasion I would become aware of such things. And I never said a single word.  Why? Because my mother as a mantra always said...

THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK

Now, as I grew older my sister and I would have a tendency as all sisters do, to fight and bicker.  Those fights would on occasion, boil over into one of us saying something hurtful to the other.    We would each justify our positions and my mother was having none of it.  She would admonish us by saying .....

KEEP YOUR WORDS SWEET BECAUSE ONE DAY YOU MAY HAVE TO EAT THEM

As I grew older and my opinions grew as quickly as I did.  I would always share my thoughts freely.  In my younger years I never curated my thoughts. I would share them as bluntly and as truthfully as I believed them.  I actually thought this was the upstanding thing to do. I had no idea that maybe people would be receptive if I listened more, measured my words more, and tempered them more. Again, my mother could be heard in my head saying....

CONSIDER YOUR AUDIENCE

All this to say I think Donald Trump could use my mother on his team of advisers.  Donald Trump is a very well educated man with a deep history of conducting his business in the public eye.  Over the course of the last 12 months, we have heard him say things that are sensational and sometimes out of line.  At times those comments are walked back and other times they are justified. I truly believe we need to create a new word to describe the level of audaciousness we have seen out of Mr. Trump.

Yesterday, I was on my way to dinner and I as I scooted through Rock Center an alert popped up on my phone.  I stopped, stepped aside and gave the audio of Donald Trump a listen. I was gobsmacked.  I simply could not believe what I was hearing. To me, what he said, was indisputable.  Hours later, as I headed home, I was thumbing through the Twitterverse and there they were  - justification after justification.  I knew what I had heard.  And I must agree with a commentator I heard this morning. In essence the concern is that the rhetoric coming out of the Trump campaign, when he wonders off script, is very much like Texas in the early 1960's.  And we all know how that turned out.

The sad part is, I believe that Donald Trump is a smart man. I even think there could be an inspiring vision for America under all of that bluster.  But, we will never know. Why? Because Donald Trump can't keep his foot out of his mouth. He is up to his knee cap by now.  And you can't blame the media...They are simply reporting what he said...This brings me to another thing my mother used to say...

DON'T BLAME OTHERS FOR HOW YOU REACT TO THEIR ACTIONS

Yet, how many times have we heard about Donald Trumps twitter activity in response to one thing or another.  This world is a ticking time bomb and so much weighs in the balance. The complexity of which requires a very unique skill set.  Jon Meacham, George HW Bush biographer, said this morning on Morning Joe...the future president of the United States needs three things...

PROPORTION

HUMILITY

DIGNITY

We really must ask ourselves at this point, is a vote for Trump worth the risk.  This isn't just a buyer beware situation.  We are aware of his failings and foibles.  Are they acceptable? Is he our voice? Can we as a nation absorb the consequences should this behavior persist?   Will we still gain things as a nation despite his lack of self-control. Oh and just for the record, I don't subscribe to the conspiracies that he does this to just keep his name in the news. And as a parent, I am not freaking out that my child will speak just as dis-respectfully as he does because they see "Trump do it."  I'm the parent oh my children. But what I do believe is that out of all the Presidents I have known in my short lifetime none of them have been us verbally unhinged as he is. I also know, that never in my lifetime, has the world been at such a boiling point.  I would just ask Donald Trump two questions - 1) Do you really want this job?  2) If so, would you please give my mother a call from time to time?  She really helped me out, quite a lot.

A Muslim, A Jew, A Catholic, A Protestant, And the Future Steward of the United States of America

Since I was 9 years old, I knew who I would vote for in every presidential election.  Granted I had 9 more years to go until I would even be eligible to vote. But, I always had a conviction about my choice.  This year the only thing I have a conviction about is that the american electorate have lost their minds!  Yet, I have a moral conviction that voting is an obligation and not optional.  So somehow I must work through the options that lay in front of me and make the best decision I can.  Now this blog isn't for the Trumpsters who will be with him until the "bloody" end. Nor is it for the Hillsters who are with her, no matter what.  This is for every person out there that feels like they are disarming a bomb and are wondering "Red Wire" or "Blue Wire." 

This past Monday morning, as usual, I was getting ready for my day while toggling between CBS Morning News and Morning Joe.  As I was listening to the interview with the Khan family I suddenly stopped what I was doing, grabbed the remote, kicked it back 2 frames and gave the interview my undivided attention.  Why? I heard the word "Stewardship."  And it was like the lights were turned on, nice and bright.  Here is what happened....

Mark Halperin had asked the Khan family if they had considered the cost of speaking at the DNC the week prior.  Had they considered the impact of what might follow.    This was Mr. Khan's answer.....

“There comes a time in a person’s life where the burdens that have been placed on us mean nothing, This county its good, means so much to us... that we unanimously, we sat at home and we spoke about what could happen....The only way to say thank you would be to face it. But say it, say it, say it publicly.  So that maybe the dignity of the office, the stewardship of this office.  These are not simple words and concepts… these are realities. The world watches the United States..... they emulate it.   It is our obligation, it is our moral duty."

Let's place aside whether you agree or disagree with this families participation at the DNC Convention.  What captured my attention so swiftly that morning was the word "Stewardship"  Stewardship, was one of those church words I grew up with.  It was a big word, that as a child I thought meant simply, give a good offering because God said so.  As I grew up and gained a deeper understanding concept, I would come to believe that all I have and will have comes from a God who loves me and that he has entrusted me to use it according to His values.  

When Mr. Khan said that, it made me look at voting and candidate selection in a different light. For years the voting standard lied in simply the issues.  Where do they stand, where have they stood, and where do they say they will stand tomorrow.  We see tons of voter guides with issues and check boxes.  But, what gets a much lighter consideration, yet goes well beyond issues, is a question. Can we put the next four years in their hands, knowing they will move those issues forward?  

Trust, is such a tricky thing in this election. Hillary Clinton has been surrounded by a whirlwind of suspicion since the mid 1990's.  And let's face it, Donald Trump, isn't trustworthy either.  We have said for years, that politicians are crooked.  And yet, somehow, at this pivotal moment we have to select one of them.  How do we do that?  Well, as I studied the concept of Stewardship again, now in a different light, this is what I learned.  

Stewardship in simplest form is basically, conducting, supervising, or managing something.... the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.  Some synonyms for stewardship are caretaker or guardian.  When you delve into the secular perspective on stewardship the focus is primarily on the care of the environment and our physical world.  In Judaism, they go back to Genesis and the continuing work of creation. The focus is to alleviate environmental degradation.  

Now Pope John Paul II, said "The earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.” Even though he too is concerned about the Earths natural state, he also compels us to be both faithful and consistent in our stewardship. In other words, don't say one thing and another.  St Basil, turns our perspective from the earth to its inhabitants when he said,  “The bread which you hold back belongs to the hungry; the coat, which you guard in your locked storage-chests, belongs to the naked; the footwear mouldering in your closet belongs to those without shoes. The silver that you keep hidden in a safe place belongs to the one in need. Thus, however many are those whom you could have provided for, so many are those whom you wrong.” You could say his approach to Stewardship is a real throwback idea.  In this day and age, there is so much focus on self development/self interest and Basil in the mid-300's was challenging people to care for those in need out of what you have.   

Not to leave the Protestants out, John Wesley was in agreement with St. Basil (albeit some 1400 years later), when he said  “Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose?” Again, we are being compelled to focus on humanity. However he too demands our faithfulness. In John Wesley's case he is asking us to be faithful to the thing we serve. And, if we don't take care of our people faithfully, he in essence calls us a fraud.  

After delving into all of this, I came up with a checklist, of stewardship principles to guide your thinking as you vacillate between candidates.  

Stewardship Checklist

1. Does the candidate have a vision for the future?  Do they posses the capacity to manage towards that vision? (John Paul II - future generations)
   
2. Are those in dire need a part of their plan? Do they have the capacity to care for those in need? (John Wesley/St. Basil - one in need, the stranger)
   
3. Does the candidate understand that the hungry, poor and needy are "our problem" and not "a problem?" (John Wesley)
   
4. Can they be entrusted to care for the nation and not their own personal ambitions? Will they reconcile all actions on behalf of this nation to the both the letter and the spirit of the U.S. Constitution? (Wesley - other purposes)
   
5. Is there a plan to protect our natural resources? Is the candidate willing to reconcile any economic plan against the needs of the land it will impact? (St. John Paul II, Judaic Stewardship)
   
6. Does the candidate have the capacity to roll up their sleeves and be a caretaker?
   
7. Does the candidate have a history of caring and curating - showing true custodial care of the resources (financial, physical and human) already and previously under their care?

We have months to go, until any of us has to put pen to paper or pull a lever.  For many of us we are grateful for the time, because we are truly stumped and wondering  "Red Wire" or "Blue Wire."  My hope is that the above will help put some of this into perspective. May we truly understand what Mr. Khan was saying when he explained, "...these are not simple words and concepts… these are realities. the world watches the United States.... they emulate it.   It is our obligation, it is our moral duty."

Get My Kid Out Of That Class!

Several weeks ago, the happiest time of the year commenced. Final report cards were distributed and summer fun was about to begin.   But before I could purchase the sunscreen and locate the beach towels - there was one end of the school year ritual that I dreaded.  Quite frankly I try desperately to avoid it.  It is the annual "What class is your child in next year?" discussion. I know, it seems completely benign.  But to a parent whose child is in an ICT (Integrated Co-teaching) class, it is a big deal. You see the ICT parent knows, that all the other parents freak out if their child gets assigned to that class.  And the ICT parent is left with a pit in their stomach.  We know that the parent will, as they are entitled to do so, will try to get that child re-assigned.

What is an ICT class?  ICT classes are classes compromised of two types of students. The first is the standard general education student. The second is the general education student that has a learning challenge (ADD, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy etc.).  The percentage of standard general education students without a learning challenge is always higher.  The concept is to not isolate the learning challenged.  The hope is that if you keep them in this integrated environment it will make it easier once they are able to move on.  This class is always equipped with two teachers, one general education teacher and one special education teacher. Both teachers work equally with all students throughout the year.  The overall class size is similar to the other classes in the same grade.

As an ICT parent, this object to the ICT environment concerns me.  One of my daughters has been in an ICT class since kindergarten.  My daughter had a speech delay and writing issues.  However, now heading into the 5th grade she no longer requires speech or occupational therapy. But the ICT class is the proper environment for her at this time.  And my hope every year is that the class be comprised of students at varying aptitude levels, creating a more realistic learning environment. I also hope the students change every year. A sort of fresh start.  However, every year we see students come and go from the class. I wasn't so aware of this at first, and made the mistake of telling my daughter that a particular student was going to be in her class next year.  She was excited, as this was a really nice student that had been in her kindergarten class. Only to find out that the child was removed as the parent complained to the principal about the ICT environment.  After the first day of school, my daughter informed me that this student wasn't in her class. I let her think I made the mistake - she was too young to understand the truth and all of its nuances.  Also, I don't ever think people are rejecting the class because of my daughter. Their concern is colored by their own understanding of "special" education.

Now, I don't take issue with the parents desire to provide their child with the best learning environment they can. You see that is my goal too. I just have a bit less control over it than they do.  When they choose to remove their child from the ICT class it changes the mix of the class.  And indeed that is my problem, not their problem. I also understand that the ICT class can be a bit chaotic as children are pulled out throughout the day to go to various therapy sessions.  It is also true that some kids are put in ICT because of behavior issues and those issues can be distracting. I get it.  But I think there are things you should consider before calling the principal and demanding removal.

Class Size - The presence of two teachers in the classroom shrinks the student to teacher ratio. And if there is also a Para assigned to a particular student the ratio shrinks even further.  Just do the math.

Point of Contact - You have two points of contact should an issues arise not just one.

The Substitute Situation - We all know that when a substitute is brought in, the day will not consist of rigorous learning.  However, in an ICT classs when one is out the other one is there.  So a more productive day can be had

Real World Learning - The ICT class with its mix of students is a better reflection of working within our society than a GATE (Gifted and Talented Class) is.  GATE classes are great, but they remind me of a sort of Think Tank.  The rest of us work in a world of high level, mid level, and low level performers.  Learning how to complete teamwork with other classmates of varying aptitudes creates a foundation for future successes when not all team players are at the same performance level.

Tolerance - We all shudder when we hear a story about a child who is being bullied because of a learning impairment.  Learning within an ICT environment teaches children to exist, work, and play with other students despite their differences.  If anything it will teach them to respect those students despite the difficulties that are present.

As parents we all want the best for our children.  But, I implore you to consider taking the road less traveled.  Our world is not perfect and our ability to succeed in an imperfect world is important.  What better way to set your child up for success than to allow him/her to be in an ICT class at least once during their Elementary School career.  Before you make that impassioned call to your Principal, pause and re-consider how you define the perfect class.

The Evolving Electorate

Have you ever seen an upside down Christmas tree?  At first the tree looks interesting. But, the longer you look at it, the stranger it looks.  You twist your head considering another angle.  And eventually you have to look away because it just looks wrong....all wrong.  This morning as you listened to the news coverage of the New Hampshire primary you heard almost the exact same sentiment - the results - especially in the GOP - seem wrong...so wrong.  The fact that a bully could win the GOP New Hampshire primary is mystifying.  The reality that a man that lacking in polish would win over a Democratic party machine like Hillary Clinton is beyond comprehension. Everything appears to be upside down.  

The results last evening, appear to be a reflection of the changes we are going through as a nation. Change is messy and can feel at times upside down and it can take a long time adapt.  The electorate is evolving and the old platforms no longer fit.  In fact when applied, they fail miserably.  The current elected officials and those who intend to be elected need to adapt if they truly want to meet the people where they are.  Here are some changes that I see.

Women Are More Than Reproductive Beings

Running on the platform of protecting a women's reproductive rights is no longer a big selling point.  Yes, recently Planned Parenthood faced an increasingly high level of scrutiny.  And yes, in the next presidential term there will most likely be Supreme Court openings to fill.  But this is not an issue that you can build your campaign on.  Younger women have never lived in a world where abortion wasn't an option.  And just like their slightly older counterparts, they don't see anything changing in that regard.  This generation of women have political concerns and interests that go beyond their own bodies and they are simply feeling ignored.

Historical Significance

The historical significance of voting for the first woman president is not enough to fuel voters to choose Hillary Clinton.  In fact, for those voters who voted for President Obama and find themselves disillusioned with his presidency will not vote for another historically significant candidate if they can't deliver.  And last but not least, do not shame women into voting for you. Men have been shaming women for centuries to serve their end.  Shame on the woman that does that to other women.  

Evangelical Compromise

Several weeks ago, when Jerry Falwell Jr. endorsed Donald J. Trump it became clear that a segment of the Evangelical Christian community was finally shifting.  For several presidential election cycles they abandoned solid candidates because they weren't Christian enough.  Now, they realize that their lack of support has brought about significant political and cultural changes that run against everything they value.  Now, they are willing to overlook some evils for what they perceive, as for the greater good.  This weeks evil, the Donald Trump potty mouth.

The New Democratic Establishment

The best way to get your cause noticed and advocated for is to ensure that it remains marginalized.  For decades the cause of pro-choice, gay rights, equality, affirmative action, etc have been issues that have the that never had majority buy-in.  The Democrats have had these as their core of their social concerns.  However, I don't they were ever ready for an alternate universe where the gains that they have made now put some of these issues in the majority.  They need to dig deeper on how appeal to the LGBT community.  Hillary Clinton's inability to recognize that these issues are no longer in the shadows but in the light of day was at the core of that silly "establishment" spat.  Bernie Sanders was able to see the gains and call the as they are.  

'Hard Working Socialism

There is a perception that if you are for social programs, you are merely looking for a handout and not a hand up.  There is a movement now, that is shedding light on a social program system that is rigged to keep the working poor from climbing out of the hole they are in.  There are now strong voices speaking for the voiceless.  They are unashamed to say, "I Am Poor" "I need help." "I want to contribute."  They are no longer in the shadows and are finding a safe place to voice their concerns and will be a considerable voting block this time around.  And they won't be bundled in with those that are generational welfare recipients who rigged the system for themselves.  They want to pursue the American Dream.  

No More Coronations 

Throughout most of 2015 the ascension of Hillary Clinton to the throne of Democratic Presidential Candidate seemed inevitable.  Once Jeb Bush threw his hat in the ring, the same presumption was made.  But as we have seen they have both struggled.  Family political dynasties are no longer acceptable. In fact they almost appear to be a deterrent.  Both Jeb and Hillary have found it difficult to shake off the family baggage and propel forward.  

Now, what hasn't changed is what the electorate has always wanted.....

Hope

This is why Bernie Sanders beat Hillary Clinton last evening and came mighty close to beating her in Iowa.  He casts a vision that voters can get behind. As opposed to the shame that Hillary Clinton served up, trying to kick women in their collective behinds.

American Superiority

After 8 years of what some has characterized as a Presidential Apology tour, voters are hungering to be back on top again.  They don't like the fact that we are in debt to China, or that so many jobs are being sent out of the country. They are buying long and hard into the "Make America Great Again" motto.  

Equality

The need for equality is no longer just limited to the gender pay gap. It extends to equal opportunity and equal taxation.  There is a revolt against classicism.  People want treated equally and fairly by law enforcement.  The need for equality is at the heart of so much of our national discord.  

As we move forward even deeper into the Presidential primary season, these candidates need to re-calibrate and become reacquainted with the electorate.  They need to throw their cookie cutters away and have conversations with the voters that drag themselves to every townhall meeting. Hear them, offer them real solutions, try to be honest for a change, and give them something to believe in.  

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