Political Football

Picture by Marilyn Wedel

Chriss Winston spoke at a Republican group meeting yesterday evening and her story is worth telling and her book is worth promoting here. The website promoting her book is here – How to Raise an American

(from the book) “If we, as a nation, allow this growing cynicism to continue to infect our youngest generations, we put them and our country’s future at risk.” — Link to Book on Amazon Everyone should buy and read the book she co-wrote with Myrna Blyth, “How to Raise an American”.

Calling Iowa her home until she left for Washington with Jim Leach’s staff in 1976; this Maryland citizen obviously felt right at home, walking to the mic joking that she may get a great ovation by simply saying “Go Hawks!” and sitting down. (We had to choose between attending the dinner or watching the Iowa-Wisconsin game) She connected her life in the political arena, what that time meant to her and how it moved her to write this book.

“Kids don’t understand they’re part of history too,” Winston said. She said we should also help them cut through the noise of media reporting and teach our children to be more skeptical of the media. Her book is filled with suggestions, and a good summary as well as part of the first chapter is on the subject website (link above).

Winston’s father was on Utah Beach during D-Day and fought in the Battle of the Bulge but as most WWII vets did, he rarely spoke of those years. Chriss and her husband took the opportunity to take their son to the Normandy Beach and traveled the path her father did on the march to Germany. Her son collected some sand off the beach in a small plastic bag to show his Grandfather.

Chriss urged us to use any excuse to talk history to our children. Driving them to the soccer field? Who is the field named after – let’s talk about it…

Unfortunately Chriss’ father passed away suddenly so they had no time to share the pictures of their trip. During the interment ceremony, on his own – her son stepped forward and opened the bag of sand and let the grains fall softly over the lowered casket. Clearly, Chriss and her husband have raised an American Son.

Buy the book for yourself or a parent you know. Good stuff.

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