During President Trump’s inaugural address, I particularly noticed his references to “ambition.” A primary example was his own political comeback, which he interpreted as a mandate by Americans who want to see change, but he also made historical references to ambition leading to key advances in the United States, such as the space program.
The word “ambition” sent me down one of my rabbit trails, quoting to myself much of the following:
Ambition is necessary to accomplishment. Without an ambition to gain an end, nothing would be done. Without an ambition to excel and to surpass one’s self, there would be no superior merit. To win anything, we must have the ambition to do so. Ambition is a good servant but a bad master. So long as we control our ambition, it is good, but if there is danger of our being ruled by it, then I would say in the words of Shakespeare, “Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition. By that sin fell the angels.”
Anyone recognize that? It was written by a teenage Laura Ingalls Wilder, and appears in “These Happy Golden Years.” After time away from her own schooling to teach a term in a small country school, Laura returned to the town classroom to find that a composition on “Ambition” was due that day, and hastily wrote the words I recalled. How did I remember them? Because my mom and a couple of teachers introduced me to Laura’s books; I reread them numerous times, and read and discussed them with my own kids. And Laura is just one example. Thanks to my parents’ example, the Bible is my most frequent reference source, but I couldn’t begin to enumerate the times when a line from some other children’s classic, or the many books and essays I read in high school or as a college English major, pops into mind with some timely advice or consideration.
The point here is not just the opportunity presented by a new Presidential administration to get some goals accomplished, although I am likely not alone in hoping that happens. But my response to the “ambition” reference reiterates the importance of encouraging our kids to read, starting with babies and toddlers, including plenty of classics as well as quality newer work. Laura herself was influenced by parents who valued books, and a society that can’t read and think critically will not make good decisions or hold leaders accountable to our nation’s founding values.
Our area libraries are available to help—Library Center of the Ozarks recently hosted a Laura Ingalls Wilder presentation with highlights of Laura’s writing and her life in Missouri. Take advantage of other educational children’s programs, book clubs, and of course, books, at the Library Center, Forsyth Library, Stone County Library, and Kimberling Area Library. Who knows, what your child reads now may lead to life-changing ambition!
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