"Laura, is the face in the misty light”, goes the song. Not so Laura Bush. Instead of a face in the misty light, this Laura wants to be, and may well be, the driving “light” behind her own agenda for America. A sort of Martha Stewart of politics, or out-Hillorying Hillory, if you will.

That, at least, is how this writer interprets Laura Bush’s declaration of distaff authority, in which she allows as how what this country needs is someone to lead a campaign to help our “troubled youth.” Much like, but hopefully with more success, than her leadership-challenged husband’s stumbling campaign to democratize the universe, or Senator Clinton’s splintered attempt to shower the nation with affordable (yeah, sure) health care.

Except in Laura Bush’s case, the lady not only looks sincere, she actually sounds sincere, when she says: “President Bush (not George, mind you), asked me to lead this new effort, and when he did, I eagerly accepted. Some trends among youth are headed in the wrong direction, but others are not.” Which trends are not, Laura failed to make clear, but as if we didn’t know.

Even a cursory look at statistics shows that America’s youth is the most severely damaged group of people in our society.  Fatherless homes, non-existent parental guidance, illegal drug use, alcohol and tobacco use, gang violence, too-early sexual activity, etcetera.

Please don’t tell me that Laura Bush is just noticing this; I can’t believe that she is as oblivious to the decimation of our youth culture as is her See no-Hear no-Speak no-evil husband. No I really think that Laura knows better and that, albeit a bit late, she sincerely wants to lead the “Helping America’s Youth” program.

I just happen to be of the opinion that she can talk until she’s blue in the face, and she can “lead” until her shoes wear out, not much is going to happen that has not already happened.  Boys without fathers and the anchor of a family are not suddenly going to hear Laura Bush’s voice and become good citizens. Girls with no restrictions or guidance will not all of a sudden stop having babies by whoever comes along.  Kids who grow up using drugs are not going to “say no” to gang violence because Laura Bush says so. To think otherwise is the height of naivety.

BUT, and here’s the catch. Laura Bush, by taking a longer view of the problem, can do what nobody else has done, or is doing, She can supervise three levels of education and activity and perhaps yet save our youth:

First, she can set up, or enhance, more local programs that work on a one-on-one basis to counsel girls and boys on the foolhardiness and consequences of early, casual sex, the dangers of alcohol and tobacco, and the tragic consequences of even minor crime and violence.

Second, she can organize, on a national basis, a staff of educators who can “demonstrate” the reasons for two parents, family values, personal integrity, and how these relate and determine whether communities thrive or die, according to their cooperative commitment to these ideals.

Third, and most importantly, she can build a cadre of educators and teachers who are able to explain to young people what America is all about; what makes us unique in the world; the words of our Constitution and how its stated laws work, the wisdom of our Founding Fathers and how and why it is relevant for today; why our history of principles, values and heritage is important, and how Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Franklin and Patrick Henry make excellent role models.

When George Bush introduces his wife, Laura, to groups of people he says that he and the First Lady are concerned about the young people in the United States.  But it’s going to take more than stopping at an after-school classroom and autographing pictures of their dog. Or Mr. Bush sitting on a child’s orange plastic chair and disingenuously saying to a young student, “Hi, I’m George. What’s your name?”

It will take the better half, Laura, a gal with guts, to pick up the pieces of the many defunct or half-hearted youth programs, turn the whole mess around and make it work; but not forgetting to emphasize the preservation of America’s history, principles and values as a platform base from which we should never deviate.

Now, if only Laura would use a little of that distaff magic on her husband, maybe he would see the light, retract his decision to send more troops to Iraq, and bring this terrible war to a quick conclusion.

James T. Moore
http://jamestmoore.us/