Over much of the last couple of months, I have been trying to reconcile the passing of President Gerald Ford and the execution of Saddam Hussein, which took place within the same week. It seems somewhat ironic to me that each in his own way will be forever tied to two of the most difficult periods in our country’s history.

President Ford, the only president who was not elected vice-president or president, succeeded Richard Nixon when Nixon resigned under threat of impeachment because of the Watergate scandal. Many would argue that this was among the greatest domestic crises in the last fifty years of this country’s history. Hussein, on the other hand, was the deposed president of Iraq and one of the most villainous people of our time; among other things, his treatment of his people and threat to the world prompted our involvement in Iraq. Gerald Ford and Saddam Hussein led very different lives and had very different roles, yet each is identified with a critical period in our history.

President Ford, who had become vice president when Spiro Agnew resigned under tax evasion charges, was by many people’s description an ethical individual who never directly or intentionally sought power, at least not that of the presidency. Yet, he found himself the most powerful man in the world for a period of time. Hussein, on the other hand, thrived on power and abused it. It is a remarkable coincidence that two public leaders tied to such important events in time and with such different moral fiber could have passed on in the same week. As we play back Ford’s term as president, he is best remembered for pardoning President Nixon. Although it was controversial at the time, it may well have been the best thing for the country. I applaud President Ford for standing by his convictions and making such an unpopular decision, one that came at great personal cost. It seems clear that if he had not pardoned President Nixon, he, instead of Jimmy Carter, might well have been elected president in 1976. I’m left wondering how history would have been different and where we would be today had that been the case.

Last week at our All-School Assembly, Peter Lisle, our School president, spoke of the need to stand by your convictions, particularly in times of difficulty. Some would argue that President Ford demonstrated this very quality in his decision to pardon Nixon. Certainly, many people in history have taken this approach and made an extraordinary difference not just in their own lives but in the world. Included among them are such people as Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr., all of whom were honorable people who sacrificed their own lives to move the world to be a better place. What then are the implications for those of us who live more normal lives and have neither the desire nor ability to have such global influence? How should we approach our lives and the challenges we face in them?

Peter stressed the importance of taking a risk and potentially making yourself and others uncomfortable to find out how much you can accomplish. He emphasized the process more than the result and noted the lessons that can be learned even when the goal is not fulfilled. Having  always believed that we learn more from our losses than from our wins, I am convinced that this is what life is about: setting our expectations and goals high, doing everything we can to accomplish them, having the strength, perseverance, and resilience to deal with the result, and learning from the process regardless of the result.

In essence, we need to dream and do what we can to make the dream become a reality. Since we cannot guarantee the fulfillment of dreams or goals or accurately foresee all of the ramifications of our efforts, we must be able to deal with the results, particularly when we fall short of accomplishing the goal or when the consequences of our actions are different from what we might have intended. As we dream, we also need to help our children and others appreciate those things they have already accomplished and where they are in the moment. If we are always preoccupied with the future, life can pass us by very quickly. To accomplish this, many of us may need to reshape our lives in order to see the different possibilities that may exist. With this in mind, let me recommend a book to you that I have recommended before: The Art of Possibility by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander introduces new frameworks and perspectives by which to evaluate and live life. It is inspiring.

Coincidentally, one of the best movies I’ve seen about dreaming and appreciating the moment is It’s a Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey and Donna Reed as his wife, Mary. This Frank Capra classic captures the struggle between dreaming and living; it stresses the importance of keeping your perspective and motivation regardless of the sacrifices and compromises that are necessary to live the life you have to its fullest. Normally, I see this movie around the holidays, but since my wife, Sunny, is teaching a senior elective on film and using this film in the course, I had the opportunity to see it earlier this month.

By the way, a movie now playing in theaters that speaks to both the positive and unintended ramifications of dreams is Dreamgirls. It is based on the lives of Diana Ross and the Supremes and the evolution of Motown. Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy give particularly strong performances; it would not surprise me if either or both of them were to win an Oscar. The movie is very enjoyable and thought-provoking.

Sometime over the next couple of weeks, I urge you to think about your dreams and also to sit down with your children to talk about theirs. If we all work together to better appreciate where we are and help one another strive for that which we want, we have a better chance of accomplishing our goals, living our dreams, and creating a better world for everyone, especially our kids. Isn’t that one of our goals as parents/guardians and/or educators?

Warmest regards,

Steven S. Piltch
Head of School