To the Editor:

I was in a hurry, rushing to a store in Hannawa Falls before I needed to get back to the office. Of course, a school bus filled with Kindergarteners was just heading out the Back Hannawa Road, the very same route I was taking. “Damn!” I thought, knowing that ahead there were few opportunities to pass. “I don’t have time for this!” But then, as the bus halted and the first little guy got off at his stop, his dad waiting to gather him in, I watched and began to smile, thinking, “Beautiful!” The bus continued on its way, making another 3 stops before turning onto a side  road.

And at each of those stops, I saw some fresh-faced smiling tyke, bounding off of the bus, running towards a waiting parent’s open arms. By the time I’d reached Hannawa Falls, I simply couldn’t stop smiling.

Driving back, I reflected on my own experience as a father and how grateful I am for having had the opportunity to raise my own two sons. One is getting married very soon and I’m hopeful that he and his wife-to-be will be able to experience the awesome privilege that parenting can be. At times, it can be overwhelming and it is undoubtedly a lifetime commitment, but one hopefully filled with love, laughter and joy and yes, the occasional pain, sorrow and anger. But ultimately, we as parents are charged with the responsibility of caring for and guiding our children towards becoming loving, joyful, discerning and hopefully, compassionate and responsible adults, prepared to carry humanity on towards its next chapter. This often requires us giving our children the means to become not necessarily what we want them to be, but rather guiding them towards what they need to be.

We are living in a rapidly changing world, one which requires all of us to model the very best behaviors we can for our children. This includes being able to listen, to speak clearly and responsibly and to try and see those we might disagree with, or who might differ from us, as fellow members of our community, rather than as our enemies.

As we enter into what could very well be one of the most contentious election years any of us has experienced, we need to keep this in mind: our children will be watching us and learning from us. What will we teach them as this year goes by: to fear and hate the “other,” or to listen, hear and consider; to shout the “other” down, or to think carefully before speaking; to tell our children only what we want them to believe, or provide them with the tools needed to help them make their own way in today’s increasingly complicated world. For the next 10 months and beyond, please, let’s all keep in mind what a very, very wise man once said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.” 

Donald P.C. Borsh
Potsdam