When my parents had their first child, they were rostered on door-to-door sales lists, and found themselves to be the proud owners of The Encyclopedia Brittanica.
This purchase was certainly aspirational, since it was definitely not for them—but they were likely an easy sell. Pursuing a good education was to them the bedrock for becoming what they called “a solid citizen.”
After completing their own professional schooling, our parents continued to learn. My mother’s preferred genre after full days with children tilted toward women’s magazines and the local newspaper. My father was buried in medical books and journals. For relaxation, he delved into news and sports magazines, or Reader’s Digest Condensed Books.
Because my father saw patients in his office as well as in the hospital, we received 50 monthly magazines— before they made their way to his waiting room. Reading was what we all did, whereas television consumption was extremely limited.
My mother often sighed that her husband’s patients must be the best read people in town—but I was the one who benefitted the most.
As we kids got older, shelves were filled with even more reference books, in addition to whatever we carted home from the public or school libraries to do our projects. We cross-referenced, discussed and honed our skills in critical thinking.
We were strongly influenced by wonderful schools and the instruction and examples of excellent teachers. They shared our parents’ emphasis on access to information and education. The fervor of the post-World War II generation to be better and to do better was everywhere.
Even Superman comics trumpeted “The Search for Truth, Justice, and the American Way.”
Creating a more informed public prepares the soil for fruitful discussion and progress.
My parents saw relatives die for their values, and children crippled by disease. They invested their talents and brainpower toward family, but also contributed so those less fortunate could survive and thrive.
This is what solid citizens do. (c)
