The American people want gestures!

When Nancy Reagan moved into the White House, the economy was in shambles. Her critics were loud about her designer clothes and any other thing they could criticize her for. When she wanted to replace the White House fine dinnerware, that was chipped and cracked, she was assailed for her extravagance. Her gesture was to solicit her wealthy acquaintances and invite them to make donations to purchase new dinnerware that heads of states and other dignitaries would be dining on.

In the entire scheme of things it was only a drop in the bucket as a financial saving but it was a gesture that made us feel better. We could use some gestures these days!

How about instead of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars commuting to Denver to sign a bill that generations yet born will be paying for, the administration use the fantastic telecommunications technology to bring together the wonders of solar power and computer genius and save the mega expenses and jet fuel Air Force 1 requires. The wonders of technology could unite Denver and Washington D.C.   It would be great P.R. for the president and a nice Gesture for the rest of us.

Every person I know is making changes in their lifestyles. We no longer shop the interior aisles of the grocery store. Instead we shop around the edges where the basics are found. No more potato chips or prepackaged cookies for many households. Many have given up movies or even renting them for that matter. Eating out is now a hot dog at the local convenience store, and a luxury at that. We are not doing our part to stimulate the economy because we are just trying to survive! We are leading the way in conservation as we limit our gas consumption, turn off all unnecessary electrical components and turn the thermostats down in the winter and up in the summer.

I admire our new First Lady. She is educated, intelligent, and has the potential to make a difference in the world. I really could care less about her designer clothes and style. I think she has more to offer than that, and yet that is what the media stories I have seen have chosen to report on. I hope she will make gestures like Nancy Reagan and call on her wealthy acquaintances to help with the remodeling done in the White House. How about the NBA stars that like to play basketball with the president, chipping in to help fund the removal of the White House bowling alley and the addition of the basketball court.

Did Nancy Pelosi use the taxpayer supported private jet to meet with the Pope? I hope not. If she did shame on her. If not I apologize for thinking rudely of her. If the head of my church requested my presence I would pay for the trip myself and gladly so! It would be my honor and I wouldn’t expect anyone else to pay for that great privilege.

It would be so refreshing if our elected officials would acknowledge that they are public SERVANTS. I would feel better if all of the appointees of President Obama were chosen for their integrity and execution of personal responsibility. I’m sure many of them are, but unfortunately a tax cheater has been appointed to be the head of our tax agency! Unfortunately he is not the only one. The irony of it all is not lost on us! I would call that an example of Jester vs Gesture. Surely there is a "genius" out there that is also ethical and honest.

Does the phrase "Let them eat cake, " ring as true today as it did several centuries ago?

When I was in college in the early 70's the professor of my U.S. History class yielded an entire class period to a fellow student to bring a message he felt of utmost importance. The Viet Nam conflict was ending, but new fears were rising when the President Nixon took some overt actions that some feared would escalate problems with China and fan the embers of conflict not yet totally extinguished from Viety Nam. This student felt compelled to organize other students to go door to door, in our conservative community, to inform them of this new and real danger. As I sat and listened to this long-haired-hippie-type person try to recruit me to join his ranks, a mental picture of him knocking on the door of a typical resident of the area, and trying to convey any message was comical. It would’ve made a wonderful political cartoon! The reality was that if a door was even opened to him it would have probably been by someone holding a rifle! With this thought in mind I asked the student how sincere he was about this danger. He expressed sincerity and when I asked him if he were willing to cut his hair and change his clothing so he could get his message out without causing problems he answered, "Those prejudices are their problem not mine!" To that I replied, "Then don’t waste any more of my education with your feigned concern. If you truly want your message received you will make yourself presentable to the community we live in!" To that he replied, "I know your boyfriend doesn’t like me." Instead of a concerned patriot he transformed right before my eyes into a Jester.

I’m not going to hold my breath until offered some gestures from our elected officials. I will probably be called a racist for even suggesting that our first black president curb his new "lifestyle". However, a few Gestures would be nice. True leadership is living what you preach and encouraging a frightened and dejected people by example. Washington D.C. do you hear us!  No more Jesters!

Gestures not Jesters–Please!