The Devil and Tom Walker

Have you read the tale, written by Washington Irving, about the selfish and immoral man, Tom Walker? It is still good reading today about greed and ramifications. One of the things I enjoy about the old classic literature, the story holds a moral. If you have been schooled on how to write short stories, you will find “the moral” a key ingredient. In this great story, the moral becomes so famous the book title is still quoted in times of aberrant behavior. I recently heard “The Devil and Tom Walker!” used in a current movie when the character saw something happen so unusual as to elicit this exclamation. The Washington Irving story is based in the early 1700's and the moral is still so relevant as to elicit a quote in the year 2006. A strong message!

When is the last time you read a current novel, watched a movie or television story that had a moral so commanding and relevant it will be remembered three hundred years from now? Some of the stories are so empty I seldom remember them thirty days from now.

The relevancies of the old classics were used in our schools as teaching tools. Students not only learned how to read, how to construct short stories, and how to write they learned how to behave. There are those that would ban books from our school libraries that teach these morals. They don’t want to ban all books that teach morals just those that might reflect on goodness in a positive way. It's the Salam witch burning in reverse.

We often think of book banning as something from another generation, perhaps another culture, or at least something less than democracy. There are currently books banned from school and community libraries in the United States. Who decides what books are allowed in these sanctuaries of higher learning? In most cases, it is the local librarian, the local library board or school board. Has it occurred to you that the people who decide what books your child will learn from are elected officials? Your library board is elected and they hire the librarian. Your school board is elected and they hire the superintendent, principal, and the librarian. In other words, the elected official decides what morals enter your children and grandchildren’s heads.

Check out your local and school library. What books have they banned. What books do they have on their shelves. Do they balance their offering of literary information to allow adults and students the opportunity to learn values that coincide with your values? Do they balance their offering to allow you, as the parent and grandparent, the opportunity to teach your children what you value and also offer books that allow you to teach what you don’t value?

Check out the next book sale your local library holds to get rid of extra or old books. If you see a copy of an old Washington Irving book in the sale, does the library replace this classic with a new copy or will tomorrow’s readers be deprived of its valuable lessons?

You are today’s citizens, who by your vote, determine the fate of tomorrow’s education. Tomorrow’s education determines the kind of democracy experienced by your children and grandchildren. Local elections must be as important to you as your vote for the presidential candidate. Indifference to the little things can have huge ramifications on the culture of the future. A culture you must protect.

Believe me, friends, there are those that are working very hard to develop a culture you will not want foisted on the next generation. Passively letting the little issues be decided by elected officials who do not have your best interests at heart is foolish.

There is a moral to this story. Let your vote be responsible and informed. The future in your community depends on you.