Obama And I Finally Agree On Something

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is delivering pointed critiques of the African American community as he campaigns for its votes, lamenting that many of his generation are "disenfranchising" themselves because they don't vote, taking rappers to task for their language, and decrying "anti-intellectualism" in the black community, including black children telling peers who get good grades that they are "acting white."

Mr. Obama and I see eye to eye on this issue. However, I will take it one step further. I think there is a lot of "anti-intellectualism" across the board, not just in the black community. What rappers say in their music and people that don't vote do is not my business, however we should be praising smart people. They are the ones who come up with the everyday items that we enjoy. They are the ones who lead us in dark times. They get teased in school, laughed at by women, and are generally chastised for being intelligent.

I was made fun of when I was in school because I took computer classes and wrote about advanced chemistry and mathematic subjects. Now, I make more money and have nicer things than any of the popular kids could ever dream of making. If we put just a fraction of praise onto a scientist, teacher or researcher that we do on Britney Spears, you would have a happier person on your hands who would be willing to work harder, come up with more radical ideas, and push the envelope of technology, science, and medicine to levels never thought possible.

So instead of buying the latest 50 cent album, how about you go to your old school and take your teacher who mentored you out to dinner? How about you send a letter to your doctor saying "thank you" for no reason other than he/she's trying to keep you healthy? A simple "thank you" or "You made me feel special" goes further then you think. So, I will use this space to thank those in my life who have made a difference.

Mr. Wizard - Mr. Wizard's World Host. If you don't know who he is, look him up.
Mrs. Stein - Kindergarten Teacher
Mrs. Green - 3rd grade teacher
Mr. Pieper - High School English
Coach Boggs - Weightlifting Coach
Can't remember his name. Bald guy, passionate about history. Think Sam Kinison in Back To School. - I sincerely apologize - High School American History

"Buster" - College mentor.
Mr. Williams - College mentor.

All of the above mentioned people were instrumental at various points in my life where I needed someone to take interest, to show me ideas and ways of thinking that spurred my interest in Science, Math, and Chemistry. These are the people who deserve to be living in large homes, driving expensive cars. These are the people who help shape a generation of children into becoming productive members of society. It's people like this that America is all about.

Travis
travis@rightwinglunatic.com