The Lesson Of Isaac Lufkin

     Watching Isaac Lufkin move through his daily life, no one would conclude that he is disabled, least of all not Isaac himself. The young Mr. Lufkin was born with no arms, but it has not kept him from becoming a kicker on his high school's football team. The 14 year old Isaac rejects what some might call a disadvantage with his matter of fact statement, "I don't want any one's pity, pity only makes me weak." This extraordinary young man is not only special in and of himself, but he is the result of special parents. He is certainly not the result of modern parenting techniques applied by so many parents that create self-esteem monsters whose only goal is to be receptacles of pity and victimhood.
     Isaac Lufkin is more agile than many of us who have two arms. From using his chin and shoulder to grasp his cafeteria tray and carton of milk, to employing his legs and head to dress himself in his football uniform, including his shoulder pads, Isaac does all the things that anyone with two arms does and more. On the football field, Isaac does not simply kick the ball and run off the field, but runs down field to help tackle the opposing player who was on the receiving end of his kick. Isaac also engages in another teen past time of using social media and the Internet by employing his feet to operate his computer.
     Isaac is truly a breath of fresh air in a society that has become more and more corrupted by a Leftist ideology that teaches young people that they are the axis upon which the earth spins simply for existing. Isaac wants nothing, save that which he achieves of his own grit, determination, and industry. This 14 year old wants to someday be a kicker in the National Football League, and I fully expect that he will achieve that dream. In fact, this young man will be successful in life no matter what his field of endeavor.
     The lesson of Isaac Lufkin is that the truly successful and happy person takes the cards that life and fate has dealt him and lives life to its fullest. Once as a young man, I was complaining about some problem I was having and a priest friend of mine told me, "That is not a problem. Come to me with no arms and tell me about your problems and I will then show you a man with no arms and no legs." That lesson has always stuck with me and has once again been realized in Isaac Lufkin. Isaac lets it matter little that he has no arms, he considers himself blessed to have two legs with which he can operate a computer keyboard, dress himself, open car doors, and kick a football better than anyone else. He knows that the secret ingredient to life is not the things which are external to a person, but the power of heart and mind to accomplish in spite of hurdles and obstacles. 

The Age Of Selfishness

     There is a shift in our culture towards more dependence as it relates to the relationship between the government and the citizen, but the same kind of shift has occurred on a more micro level in our society. This shift has occurred in the family and has taken place within the realm of parenting. Until recently, the goal of parents has remained relatively unchanged and has spanned most cultures of the world. The successful outcome of good parenting is a child who has been transformed into an independent and contributing member of society. This is accomplished through the teaching of moral values, a strong work ethic and a strong sense of independence.
     Unfortunately, the skills of good parenting are lost on some in today's generation of parents. We've all seen the unruly child in public whose parent ignores the uncivilized behavior or even worse, rewards it with whatever it is the child wants. There is an even worse trend of which I have been made aware, i.e. mothers taking inappropriately aged boys into the ladies room. Some have reached the age of 7 or 8, long past the age when a trip to the ladies room with mother is appropriate. It is not only damaging to the sense of independence in the young boy, but is very uncomfortable for other women who may be using the facility. This inappropriate behavior is possibly driven by a fear of what might happen to the young man if he were allowed to enter the men's room by himself. But this is an irrational fear since it can easily be overcome by the mother waiting right outside the door and by previously having properly trained and instructed the boy in how to handle any unusual situation, should it arise.
     Creating independence in a child begins at a very young age. A friend of mine told me a story about a trip he had taken to Amish country. While there, he helped a small Amish girl to her feet after she had fallen. The girl was no more than 3 or 4 years old, and my friend received a stern look from her father. When my friend inquired if he had done something wrong, the Amish father said that the girl must learn to pick herself up when she falls. This is the antithesis of the parenting mentality which causes a mother to take her 6 or 7 year old son into the ladies room. The Amish father knows that a child who is taught to always expect help from others, will grow into an adult who can't do for themselves, and this isn't good for any culture or society.
     Of course there is a fine line a parent must walk between allowing the child in their care to learn the valuable lessons of independence, and keeping them safe and healthy. This line, which was instinctive in our culture for so long, seems to have been obliterated in favor of raising children that remain juvenile their entire lives. It begins with retarding a child's very basic personal responsibilities, like using the restroom by themselves. But it leads to adults who can't fulfill any of the responsibilities of living in a civilized society, like supporting themselves, helping their community and leaving more to the world than they have received. We have entered the age of selfishness which is caused by dependence and leads to a soulless society.

Click here to watch my latest political song parody. Posted December 2, 2012.