Security

"The security of this nation is very much in your hands."
An audience of over 500 graduates, family, and friends listened, spellbound.

Jon Fleming, commencement speaker was not speaking to West Point cadets. He was addressing University of Texas Arlington's College of Education graduates.

"You are responsible for the welfare of this country as much as the soldiers, sailors, army, Navy, SEALS. You see, the Great Seal of the United States has a bald eagle, one talon is holding a bunch of arrows. The other is holding an olive branch. Education is in the realm of this olive branch. And today, this branch is wilting. Our society is in disarray. Our families are breaking apart. And our schools are hurting."

Three months ago, I did not want to be part of this graduation ceremony.
I did not attend my own college graduation and saw no sense in sitting through a formality.
No one ever got their diploma the day of their graduation because grades weren't done and everyone knew the diploma would come through mail.
Besides, it cost at least $50 to attend your own graduation.

I appreciated Jon Fleming's frankness about our public education system and his fearlessness in reminding of education's complimentary might with military muscle. I wondered if Jon knew that in the final design of the Great Seal by Charles Thomson, the olive branch was placed in the eagle's stronger right talon and faced the eagle toward it.

"Years ago, when our nation was expanding and we were moving west, every single time a town was established, four persons were sent. They were called the four learned professionals: a minister, a doctor, a lawyer, and a teacher. This is the framework of how every town of our society was built. The law, the health, the spiritual, and the education of our people."

I had come in support of Trúc, one of our aspirants, and her accomplishment in achieving a Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies.
I found myself reminded of the great need of the 21st century.

Truth.
Truth unadulterated by money and power.

Jesus, the Good Teacher, would agree with Jon Fleming's rousing ending.
"Go forth and teach the world." (cf Matthew 28:20)

ps. Photo credit Great Seal of the United States http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/National_Symbols/USA_Seal.html

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