My column, The Unreachable Star, in draft form
My column for this week in draft form
The Unreachable Star
And the world will be better for this:
That one man, scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove, with his last ounce of courage,
To reach ... the unreachable star.
-Man of LaMancha (Elvis Presley)
I was disturbed by a speech that White House Deputy Tim Goeglein, gave to a recent Young Republicans convention.
Goeglein, assistant to political guru Karl Rove, said he developed a method for distinguishing Republicans from Democrats.
Goeglein said, “Republicans do not want their children to be artists or writers”.
“Our party, in the way it is constituted, we think of medicine, we think of law, we think of business,” said Goeglein.“
“We don't think, gee, I hope my son grows up to be a great playwright or painter or poet.”
Geoelein’s attitude explains why federal funding for the arts has dropped and why the White House has launched a major assault on public broadcasting.
Geoelein is clueless about where the world has been and where it is going.
From the ancient Greeks and Romans and the Renaissance era, all advances in law, medicine and business occur at the same time as great advances in the arts.
Creativity begat creativity. The stimulation of thought advances the human race at every level.
As technology and outsourcing eliminate jobs that can be done by routine systems, Americans will need to use their creativity to make a living.
The White House ought to be pushing people to be more creative, not less.
Goeglein’s has been cooped up in
Those parents understand the need to nurture an artistic and creative mind.
Parents of all political persuasions want their child be the next Shakespeare or Monet.
It would beat being Karl Rove’s coat holder.
I was blessed that my parents never discouraged me from any “impossible dream” I had. I wanted to be an astronaut until I realized I was too tall then I wanted to be a pro basketball player until I realized I was too short.
At the time, there were seven American astronauts and about 150 professional basketball players.
I did not make it to outer space or the NBA but developed the ability to dream big dreams. I have never lost it.
The Man of LaMancha was a huge Broadway success. The theme song, “The Impossible Dream” is one of the best known songs of all time.
I can’t think of the song “The Impossible Dream” without thinking of Elvis Presley. A lot of people sang the song but Elvis lived it.
Elvis rose from a poor background to become one of the greatest entertainers in history.
Elvis had the confidence to take on the music establishment and play what he wanted to play. He broke down barriers by staying true to his vision.
Elvis developed his confidence early in childhood and never lost it.
He was a star, not someone’s flunky.
If my children go into politics, I want them to dream about being President, not to dream about being a lackey to an assistant to the President.
I want them to reach for the highest star they can reach for.
You may like or dislike Ronald Reagan but he encouraged Americans to dream big dreams. Reagan’s life journey from poverty to movie star to President made him believe that anything is possible.
I don’t understand how Goeglein, can call himself a “Reagan Republican” when he tells us to stifle dreams and push children into a trade.
Goeglein doesn’t understand what Ronald Reagan was all about. Reagan knew how to dream and Goeglein obviously does not.
I pray that people encourage their children to be playwrights and painters and poets. I don’t care what political party they come from, but we need people who can create, think and express their feelings.
We must keep striving to reach that unreachable star.
Don McNay is President of McNay Settlement Group where we want people to achieve their dreams. He is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. You can write to him at don@mcnay.com or read other things he has written at www.donmcnay.com
posted by Don McNay @ 7:09 PM
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