Storytime 1
Dear Living Liberal Readers:
I often write about my experiences in the school for which I serve as Librarian. It’s a PK-4th grade school here in Fort Worth, and I call it “Storytime” when I post my stories. This is taken from a recent post of my personal Facebook page. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
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My school is a Title I school, meaning we have lots of low-income families, the vast majority of whom meet the federal guidelines for free breakfast and lunch. In fact, the entire school population (students) receives these free meals — meals, I might add, that are sometimes the only food these children get.
Most of those sweet families are black and Hispanic. A whopping two percent are white. (Imagine that?!? I’m in the minority, though I’ve never been treated with anything other than love and respect.)
While I have no stats, there may be children here illegally, and, more likely, there are parents here illegally.
Today during a 4th grade class, a black girl, around 10 years old, comes up to check out her book. During check-out time, I always greet each student, and make some kind of small talk, e.g., “How are you today?” “Did you like your book?” “How was your weekend?” etc. Something to make a connection with the student.
This particular girl looked upset. I asked her, “How are you doing today?”
Girl: (quietly) I’m upset.
Me: Why are you upset?
Girl: Because now that Trump is president, he will send me back to Africa.
Me: (gently taking her two hands and just holding them, looking into her sweet eyes): Were you born in this country?
Girl: Yes.
Me: Then no one can send you back to Africa or anywhere. You are a U.S. citizen, and no one can make you go anywhere you don’t want to go. Do you understand that?
Girl: Yes.
Me: I want you to KNOW that you will not be sent to Africa or anywhere else. Do you feel better?
Girl: Yes, Mrs. Scholl. Thank you.
Me: (feeling about 100 years old, shoulders sagging, and spirit crushed).
And this was from a girl who is a legal citizen. I can only imagine the terror some of our Hispanic students feel who know they or their parents are illegal. It must not be a pleasant way to live.
This Storytime, however, is not about immigration. It’s about my students. It’s about students all across this country. It’s about the fear that many of our students now have because of the horrible things they’ve heard on TV about “deporting Mexicans”, “keeping the Muslims out of this country”, and other hateful, filthy things that they have heard from our incoming president.
And so my first greeting to you, Mr. President-Elect Trump, is this:
Thank you for being the kind of president who has a pro-stance on sex education for our children. Thank you for all the times you’ve uttered the word fuck, pussy, talked about grabbing a woman’s breasts, and for freely admitting to kissing women without their permission. Thank you for being a real man’s man by objectifying women; for judging women; for making them feel like they are nothing if they are not the Perfect 10; for making them feel they are nothing but pussy. Thank you for the unrealistic image you’ve created for young women who feel they must live up to this fantasy of yours. Further, I thank you for all of the many utterances of profanity that have slithered out of your vile orifice. We as parents, teachers, and other caregivers now have the opportunity to explain to our young children what those words mean. Good old-fashioned sex ed. Leading by example, Mr. President-Elect. Gotta love it.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank you, Mr. Trump, for helping our children to grow up faster than necessary by instilling fear into their young minds. They will sleep better knowing your views on handling world affairs. Thank you for promising to “bomb the hell” outta this group or that group; for your obvious hatred of minorities with your promises to build fences and deport illegal Mexicans; for your bigotry concerning our LGBTQ and Muslim friends and neighbors; and, quite frankly, for your mistrust and hatred of anyone who is not exactly like you — though no one I know would ever want to be anything like you.
Teachers would especially like to thank you, Mr. Trump, for your fear-mongering speech, which provides us the opportunity to comfort and console our students while we also try to teach the curriculum to terrified children who are worried that they or their parents might be deported. Oh, yes. Thank you for those extra lessons we now get to teach. We have so much extra time in the instructional day that these extra lessons will fill in quite nicely. You are too generous, Mr. President-Elect.
Accordingly, Mr. Trump, thank you for making the job for teachers and parents all across this great country, which, by the way, has always been great, but whose greatness is now in serious jeopardy, more difficult because of the filthy sewage flowing from your cesspool of a mouth. We owe you this gratitude and thanks. Actually, we owe you quite a bit more.
Unfortunately, though quite obviously, there are many who think and feel as you do, Mr. Trump — enough for you to have won according to the counts of yesterday’s election. As a citizen, I am sickened to think of how many people who really is. As an educator, I received a lesson yesterday. I learned that slightly more than half of this country believe, think, and feel as you do. I am sickened for myself, those I love, my sweet (though possibly illegal) students, and all decent Americans, i.e., those who voted otherwise, who will now be obliged call you Mr. President, our country’s leader. The question is, leader of what?!?
Lastly, and in closing, please allow me to thank and congratulate the good people of the United States who saw fit to elect you. The people have, indeed, spoken, which only serves to confirm my extremely abysmal opinion of people in general. Just remember, dear misguided populace, that what’s popular is not always right and what’s right is not always popular. May those words ring loud and clear in your ears for the next four years.
