Letter to the Editor: Distinction is important

To the Editor:

When I was five years old I began the first grade in a small country school in Kansas. I did not know I was a kindergarten student in this rural school, or that my classmate was a pre-kindergarten. I only knew I was glad for Mrs. Gregory and I could go to school, even though she taught grades one through three. That was the beginning of my education in reading, writing, arithmetic and the spelling and vocabulary were tested every Friday.

In the grades beyond Mrs. Gregory, I was taught by other teachers to the study of Kansas and United States histories, then the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution with Amendments and the Lincoln Gettysburg Address. It was an imperative of my Dad that in my studies, I was to use his official U.S. Marine Corp dictionary. It had been his since 1942 when he began his journey from the rolling hills of Kansas to the islands in the Pacific Ocean in World War II and back to Kansas. Dad had read and studied that dictionary well. The U.S. Constitution he had pledged to protect was the reason why vocabulary as he knew it was important. He was my kind of hero. A lesson learned from him was “Be sure to ask the question right.” He did not say “right question” for a reason.

So my question is - “In these words do you know the distinction and why?” Republic or democracy; liberty or freedom; justice or equality; people or persons; immigrant or refugee. A lesson in spelling, vocabulary and the value of distinction is given. Will you pass the test?

Confusion in comparing words with these that have a distinctive use is a plight affecting many Americans today. The reason why a certain word is used over another is because of that very distinction.

One thing I did every day in my classrooms was stand, place my right hand over my heart and state: “I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Looking at the flag for many years has brought me to love the values it stands for and value the ones who stand for it.

Foundations are very important. The meaning of words, the distinction in words, the value of meaning and distinction are very important. So, why would any true-blue American citizen of this great United States want to change the U.S. Constitution?

Thank you Mrs. Gregory for your part and to Dad for showing me “Distinction is important.” “Very important!”

Sue Fry Vonderohe
New Albin