Lessons from Dr. Seuss

Don't think you, as an adult, have anything to learn from good ol' Dr. Seuss? Think again. The screamers and I read something Seussical nightly. They pick, I read. There's been a lot of "Grinch" lately, because of the season. "Horton" and "Yertle" are two big favorites here as well (Horton was even before the movie, which is freakin' hilarious btw). The screamers have only recently discovered the joy of my absolute fave, The Lorax.

While I've known and loved Seuss for years upon years, the recent readings of them have started to ring a whole new message for me. As a youngster, they were pure entertainment with childlike lessons to be learned (though originally it wasn't Seuss' obvious intention to preach, he did a fine job of making you think without the preachiness). Now however, stories like Yertle the Turtle, most specifically, are relating to the times for me. Originally, Yertle was written as a parallel to Hitler. Wouldn't Seuss be surprised to see how well it relates to the US now?

How far our country climbed on the backs of the small, not just her citizenry but other countries and their citizens as well. How far she has to fall. Her grasp became too greedy and carried many a man and woman along to those reaching heights. The fall will be great and we, the Macks, will still carry the weight. There are many who will have their shells crack, who will die of hunger or simply be lost. There are also many who will be Mack, sitting cheerfully on the side of the pond in the end, knowing they are at last free. There will be mud, oh will there ever be mud, but there will be freedom as well. Will you be a Mack or one of the silent stack?

I chose to be a Mack, quite honestly. I chose to speak out, in my way, and burp. I also chose to pass on to the screamers the knowledge that one little burp (though at the moment they choose to take it literally) can change the world. It literally takes one good notion/idea/plan to build or destroy. The proof is all around us. Our country began as a glimmer, a burp. It seems that it will end in a fall however as the principles of the founding have been lost along the way to greed and power. To build her back (if it is at all possible) we will have to look closely at the original burp and try as best we can to make a duplicate, only louder this time so that the message holds true.

Don't think you have anything to learn from rhyming children's books? Think again. You might be pleasantly surprised.


ETA: A bit of pleasantness today...I became an Auntie again (not that I haven't been since I was 11yrs old). Julio Lamar (not his real name) was born at 2:14pm CST, weighing in at 7lbs 12oz with a shock of red hair. I won't get to see the little rooter for a bit, probably not for at least a month, as I've been called to that loverly 6mth jury duty that MO has. Hoping desperately to get out of it as my uncle is a Highway Patrol detective and my cousin is a HP patrolman. At any rate, the rooter and my sis are doing well and I'm really wishing I was in KY.