The donkey and the elephant
I had nearly forgotten that today was a teacher training which meant that Sam and Paul, my adopted niece and nephew, had the day off. Twelve-year-old Paul was going to work with their mom which I knew he was really looking forward to. Six-year-old Sam was going to spend the day with me. I had promised her that after breakfast here we would go to the zoo. First we would finish her homework which her dad had already told me was to find out what “politics” is?
There she comes across the lawn from next door.
Me: Good morning Sam.
Sam: Good morning Uncle Jim. It is cold.
Me: Well, I have the oatmeal made. Do you want a bagel or an English muffin to go with that?
Sam: An English muffin with some of your homemade strawberry jelly please.
Me: That is easy. Shall I toast the muffin?
Sam: Yes, please, Uncle Jim. Can I have hot chocolate too Uncle Jim?
Me: You sure can. Suppose I make it while you start on the oatmeal.
Sam: Okay. Do you remember how to make it Uncle Jim? You need cocoa, sugar, milk, salt, and then cinnamon, marshmallows, and whipped cream.
Me: Wow. You remembered all the ingredients. That is great! I think we have everything we need. Oh! The muffin just popped up. Do you want me to butter it?
Sam: Yes, but can I put on the jelly please?
Me: You sure can Sam.
I butter the muffin, open the jelly, and get a spoon for her.
Me: Now I will start the hot chocolate. Oops. We forgot your apron. Here let me get it and tie it on.
Sam: Thanks. Dad hates it when I have hot chocolate or jelly on my clothes. He says that they are sometimes hard to wash out.
Me: Yes they are. Now while I am making the hot chocolate, tell me about your homework assignment.
Sam: Our teacher said to ask adults in our family what politics are? I asked mom and she said, “I am so sick of politics.” Then I asked dad and he said, “Uncle Jim would love to help you with that question.
Me: Well, what do you think it is Sam?
Sam: Well, there are always these men and sometimes women saying mean things about each other.
Me: Really. What men and women are these?
Sam: Uncle Jim! You know that a lot of people want to be the next president. None of these people seem to like each other. Is that what politics are - saying mean things about each other?
Me: Well, that is what happens, but that is not what the word means. I better get the big dictionary.
I go over and get the Merriam-Webster dictionary and set it on the table.
Let’s see Sam. Here it is:
1 a: the art or science of government b: the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing government policy c: the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government.
2 : political actions, practices or policies.
3 A: political affairs or business; especially: competition between competing interest groups or individuals for power and leadership (as in government) b: political life especially as a principal activity or profession c: political activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices.
4 : the political opinions or sympathies of a person
5 : the total complex of relations between people living in society b: relations or conduct in a particular area of experience especially as seen or dealt with from a political point of view.
Sam: I have no idea what that means Uncle Jim. It keeps using the word to define the word. I thought we were not supposed to do that Uncle Jim.
Me: You are right. Let’s see if you and I can make it simple. How about we start with government. How about we look at your family Sam. How does your family make decisions?
Sam: Well, sometimes we all sit down and make decisions. Sometimes mom makes decisions and sometimes dad makes them. Lots of times mom and dad tell Paul and me what to do and then sometimes Paul thinks he is my boss.
Me: Very good. The way your family makes decisions is the government of the family. Now if we leave your house you sometimes go on the street or you use your bicycle on the sidewalk. Also, water comes to your house. You flush the toilet and it goes some somewhere. We turn on the stove and set the thermostat if we want heat or air conditioning. Everyone on the street can do all those things.
Sam: Yes. How does water get there Uncle Jim?
Me: Well the water, for example, comes in a pipe which brings the water from a reservoir (a big lake like of water). All the kids at your school live in house which has water from the same lake. Here let’s draw it on the board.
I draw the reservoir and then all these pipes going to all the houses.
Me: The water has to be made safe. Someone has to buy the pipes, dig the holes in the ground, lay the pipes, and hook them up to our houses. The same thing happens with the pipes carrying everything from the toilet to bringing electricity and gas to the house. Then someone has to make the streets and the sidewalks. We also share the schools, the police, the fire department, and all the other things we need to take care of each other. Someone has to make a lot of decisions. What would happen if every time they needed to fix something at the school or put out a fire someone had to find all of us and we had to have a meeting to make a decision?
Sam: I would not know what to do and we would never get any rest. Boy, we would be tired.
Me: So we get together as a community and we vote on who is going to make all these things happen. We form a government. We have to do that as a country and that is why we are electing a president and others who will help make decisions.
Sam: There are a bunch of people who want to be president Uncle Jim.
Me: Yes, there are Sam. In this case, it is more than our neighborhood. It is a whole country. Let’s look at the map. See it is all this land and this place called Hawaii and a couple of other places. Just this area here has places where people can vote in the presidential election.
I point to other places where there are US citizens who cannot vote: Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands and Samoa.
Sometime we will talk about these other places. At any rate, a lot of people think that they can best be the leader for our country.
Sam: What about the elephants and the donkeys Uncle Jim?
Do we vote for an elephant or a donkey? Will they be at the zoo today Uncle Jim?
Me: Well, there are some people who think an elephant or a donkey might do a better job, but no, one group of people have an elephant which is the mascot for that group of people. Do you know what a mascot is Sam?
Sam: Is that like the animal which comes on during the football game Uncle Jim?
Me: Very good Sam. That is exactly what it is. A mascot is an object or an animal that is a fun way to identify a group. For example, we could say that Oscar, your dog, is the mascot for your family. Everyone in the neighbor knows that Oscar lives at your house and when they see Oscar they think of your family.
Sam: But Uncle Jim if there are a lot of people running for president who belongs to the elephant and who belongs to the donkeys?
Me: The elephant is the mascot for the Republicans which includes Mr. Trump, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Bush and Mr. Kasich. The donkey is the mascot for the Democrats which includes Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Sanders.
Sam: So we pick one donkey and one elephant?
Me: Well, first if we think the donkeys are best we vote for one of the donkeys and if think the elephants are better we vote for one of the elephants. Then later we vote again for either the elephant or the donkey.
Sam: Mom said they are all just hot air Uncle Jim. Does that mean they are like a balloon and if we stick a pin in them they will be dead?
Me: Well, not exactly Sam but it is hard to know who to believe and who has the best ideas.
Sam: So politics is deciding to be the best elephant or the best donkey and saying mean things about the others and then having the others say mean things about you and then everyone votes for the one who says the meanest thing best.
Me: It seems like that doesn’t it Sam? No, politics is a way of trying to decide how we can make decision to take better care of each other. It is not good or bad. Every group is political in that it has to make lots of decisions. Sometimes people think the other people wanting to be elected would make bad decisions and they say mean things.
Sam: Can we go to the zoo soon Uncle Jim? Then maybe we can ask the elephants and the donkeys how they make decisions.
Me: Well, yes, although their language is different than ours. If we watch them carefully we can see them making decisions. If you wanted to study the politics of the elephants and the donkeys what do you think you would study in college?
Sam: I could study that in college?
Me: Yes. You might study ethology or zoology. There are several other professions which also studies animals. You have sometimes thought you wanted to be a veterinarian.
Sam: That might be more fun that studying humans Uncle Jim.
Me: Yes, it might. Let’s clean up and then we can go to the zoo. Later we will make some notes for what you want to say about politics in class tomorrow.
Sam: Okay. Do you think we could get a toy elephant and donkey I could take to class?
Me: I think so. We will look in the gift shop at the Zoo.
Written February 17, 2016
I had nearly forgotten that today was a teacher training which meant that Sam and Paul, my adopted niece and nephew, had the day off. Twelve-year-old Paul was going to work with their mom which I knew he was really looking forward to. Six-year-old Sam was going to spend the day with me. I had promised her that after breakfast here we would go to the zoo. First we would finish her homework which her dad had already told me was to find out what “politics” is?
There she comes across the lawn from next door.
Me: Good morning Sam.
Sam: Good morning Uncle Jim. It is cold.
Me: Well, I have the oatmeal made. Do you want a bagel or an English muffin to go with that?
Sam: An English muffin with some of your homemade strawberry jelly please.
Me: That is easy. Shall I toast the muffin?
Sam: Yes, please, Uncle Jim. Can I have hot chocolate too Uncle Jim?
Me: You sure can. Suppose I make it while you start on the oatmeal.
Sam: Okay. Do you remember how to make it Uncle Jim? You need cocoa, sugar, milk, salt, and then cinnamon, marshmallows, and whipped cream.
Me: Wow. You remembered all the ingredients. That is great! I think we have everything we need. Oh! The muffin just popped up. Do you want me to butter it?
Sam: Yes, but can I put on the jelly please?
Me: You sure can Sam.
I butter the muffin, open the jelly, and get a spoon for her.
Me: Now I will start the hot chocolate. Oops. We forgot your apron. Here let me get it and tie it on.
Sam: Thanks. Dad hates it when I have hot chocolate or jelly on my clothes. He says that they are sometimes hard to wash out.
Me: Yes they are. Now while I am making the hot chocolate, tell me about your homework assignment.
Sam: Our teacher said to ask adults in our family what politics are? I asked mom and she said, “I am so sick of politics.” Then I asked dad and he said, “Uncle Jim would love to help you with that question.
Me: Well, what do you think it is Sam?
Sam: Well, there are always these men and sometimes women saying mean things about each other.
Me: Really. What men and women are these?
Sam: Uncle Jim! You know that a lot of people want to be the next president. None of these people seem to like each other. Is that what politics are - saying mean things about each other?
Me: Well, that is what happens, but that is not what the word means. I better get the big dictionary.
I go over and get the Merriam-Webster dictionary and set it on the table.
Let’s see Sam. Here it is:
1 a: the art or science of government b: the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing government policy c: the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government.
2 : political actions, practices or policies.
3 A: political affairs or business; especially: competition between competing interest groups or individuals for power and leadership (as in government) b: political life especially as a principal activity or profession c: political activities characterized by artful and often dishonest practices.
4 : the political opinions or sympathies of a person
5 : the total complex of relations between people living in society b: relations or conduct in a particular area of experience especially as seen or dealt with from a political point of view.
Sam: I have no idea what that means Uncle Jim. It keeps using the word to define the word. I thought we were not supposed to do that Uncle Jim.
Me: You are right. Let’s see if you and I can make it simple. How about we start with government. How about we look at your family Sam. How does your family make decisions?
Sam: Well, sometimes we all sit down and make decisions. Sometimes mom makes decisions and sometimes dad makes them. Lots of times mom and dad tell Paul and me what to do and then sometimes Paul thinks he is my boss.
Me: Very good. The way your family makes decisions is the government of the family. Now if we leave your house you sometimes go on the street or you use your bicycle on the sidewalk. Also, water comes to your house. You flush the toilet and it goes some somewhere. We turn on the stove and set the thermostat if we want heat or air conditioning. Everyone on the street can do all those things.
Sam: Yes. How does water get there Uncle Jim?
Me: Well the water, for example, comes in a pipe which brings the water from a reservoir (a big lake like of water). All the kids at your school live in house which has water from the same lake. Here let’s draw it on the board.
I draw the reservoir and then all these pipes going to all the houses.
Me: The water has to be made safe. Someone has to buy the pipes, dig the holes in the ground, lay the pipes, and hook them up to our houses. The same thing happens with the pipes carrying everything from the toilet to bringing electricity and gas to the house. Then someone has to make the streets and the sidewalks. We also share the schools, the police, the fire department, and all the other things we need to take care of each other. Someone has to make a lot of decisions. What would happen if every time they needed to fix something at the school or put out a fire someone had to find all of us and we had to have a meeting to make a decision?
Sam: I would not know what to do and we would never get any rest. Boy, we would be tired.
Me: So we get together as a community and we vote on who is going to make all these things happen. We form a government. We have to do that as a country and that is why we are electing a president and others who will help make decisions.
Sam: There are a bunch of people who want to be president Uncle Jim.
Me: Yes, there are Sam. In this case, it is more than our neighborhood. It is a whole country. Let’s look at the map. See it is all this land and this place called Hawaii and a couple of other places. Just this area here has places where people can vote in the presidential election.
I point to other places where there are US citizens who cannot vote: Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands and Samoa.
Sometime we will talk about these other places. At any rate, a lot of people think that they can best be the leader for our country.
Sam: What about the elephants and the donkeys Uncle Jim?
Do we vote for an elephant or a donkey? Will they be at the zoo today Uncle Jim?
Me: Well, there are some people who think an elephant or a donkey might do a better job, but no, one group of people have an elephant which is the mascot for that group of people. Do you know what a mascot is Sam?
Sam: Is that like the animal which comes on during the football game Uncle Jim?
Me: Very good Sam. That is exactly what it is. A mascot is an object or an animal that is a fun way to identify a group. For example, we could say that Oscar, your dog, is the mascot for your family. Everyone in the neighbor knows that Oscar lives at your house and when they see Oscar they think of your family.
Sam: But Uncle Jim if there are a lot of people running for president who belongs to the elephant and who belongs to the donkeys?
Me: The elephant is the mascot for the Republicans which includes Mr. Trump, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Bush and Mr. Kasich. The donkey is the mascot for the Democrats which includes Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Sanders.
Sam: So we pick one donkey and one elephant?
Me: Well, first if we think the donkeys are best we vote for one of the donkeys and if think the elephants are better we vote for one of the elephants. Then later we vote again for either the elephant or the donkey.
Sam: Mom said they are all just hot air Uncle Jim. Does that mean they are like a balloon and if we stick a pin in them they will be dead?
Me: Well, not exactly Sam but it is hard to know who to believe and who has the best ideas.
Sam: So politics is deciding to be the best elephant or the best donkey and saying mean things about the others and then having the others say mean things about you and then everyone votes for the one who says the meanest thing best.
Me: It seems like that doesn’t it Sam? No, politics is a way of trying to decide how we can make decision to take better care of each other. It is not good or bad. Every group is political in that it has to make lots of decisions. Sometimes people think the other people wanting to be elected would make bad decisions and they say mean things.
Sam: Can we go to the zoo soon Uncle Jim? Then maybe we can ask the elephants and the donkeys how they make decisions.
Me: Well, yes, although their language is different than ours. If we watch them carefully we can see them making decisions. If you wanted to study the politics of the elephants and the donkeys what do you think you would study in college?
Sam: I could study that in college?
Me: Yes. You might study ethology or zoology. There are several other professions which also studies animals. You have sometimes thought you wanted to be a veterinarian.
Sam: That might be more fun that studying humans Uncle Jim.
Me: Yes, it might. Let’s clean up and then we can go to the zoo. Later we will make some notes for what you want to say about politics in class tomorrow.
Sam: Okay. Do you think we could get a toy elephant and donkey I could take to class?
Me: I think so. We will look in the gift shop at the Zoo.
Written February 17, 2016
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