The first of May conjures up all sorts of emotions. Having taught public school for 30 years, I can say unequivocally that for most students, May 1st is the official signal that summer will soon be here, the school year is almost over, and nothing your teachers say from here on out is even marginally important.
Fortunately, teachers know there’s still plenty left to learn, and enjoy, as we make May baskets, march in Loyalty Day parades, and eagerly anticipate the running of the derby on the first Saturday of the month.
But last year the first of May took on a new, and in my opinion, rather dark, memory. May 1, 2011, is the day President Obama announced the death of Osama Bin Laden. And while many in this country cheered and celebrated, I was overcome by a deep and rather profound sense of sadness.
Now, I’m a proud American clear to the tips of my toes, never doubt that, but there’s a part of me that mourns every failed attempt by any faction of the human population to get along. Why is it so tough to respect each other? Why has tolerance and acceptance of individual ideals become less than the norm? Why is death and destruction an acceptable alternative to peaceful negotiation?
Yes, yes, I agree that “they started it” with the horrific events of September 11, 2001. And no, I do not think that event should have gone unanswered. Am I relieved Bin Laden is no longer a threat? Absolutely.
But my biggest fear stems from the way my students, bless their hearts, responded to the attack. Try as I might, I could not convince them that all Muslims are not terrorists, just as all Germans were not Nazis.
So on this day, I will pray for peace, and I will pray that our youth does not rely too heavily on war as the only way to achieve it.