With few hours left in the presidential election, many of those in the inner-city complex as well as suburban areas feel strongly about their role in electing the right candidate. What is the common thread among both groups? It reaches deeper than healthcare issues or foreign policies. A generational legacy is being created when you have an active role in providing a better life for our future through education. Although many fought and died so that we, today, can exercise our right to vote, what message is being conveyed about the importance of voting as it relates to adequate education to secure our future generations?
A 23-year-old mother sat patiently waiting in line for three hours to vote for who she believes is the best candidate. While holding her sleeping infant daughter, she expressed her passion for taking an active role in this year’s election. When asked about her role as a mother as it relates to voting she replied, “It’s important for me to be here, because I want my daughter to have access to the educational programs that I had growing up. If the wrong person is put in office all of those television programs will cease to exist, and I don’t want that. I’m here for my child,” she expressed.
She was referring to the comment by former governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney regarding his sentiment towards PBS programs that broadcast primarily children’s educational programs, such as “Sesame Street.” He states, “I’m sorry Jim, I’m gonna stop the subsidy to PBS,” Romney told debate moderator Jim Lehrer, who is executive editor for PBS’ “NewsHour.” “I like PBS. I love Big Bird. I actually like you, too. But I’m not gonna keep on spending money on things to borrow money from China to pay for it.”
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, a 2009 study found that U.S. students ranked 25th out od 34 countries in math and science, therefore, cutting back on educational programs is the last thing we should do. Furthermore, with the recent Chicago Public School’s strikes just a couple months behind us, we should be honing in on how to provide more adequate means of educational programs that enhance both the student and teacher’s experience.
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan wrote in A Torchlight for America, “Education is supposed to be the proper cultivation of the gifts and talents of the individual through the acquisition of knowledge.” All nations and civilizations are products of their education and experience, therefore, what type of nation do we intend to be without the acquisition of knowledge and proper education?
This election holds a great deal at stake. Let’s choose wisely. –ebony s. muhammad
