[Strangler Lewis]

The elementary school indoctrination experience.

"How was school today?"
"Good."
"Anything interesting happen?"
"Zachary's mom brought cupcakes. Emily fell at recess."
"Wasn't today President Obama's speech?"
"Yeah."
"Did your class watch it?"
"Yeah."
"How was it?"
"Good."
"What did he talk about?"
"Stuff."
"Like?"

Crickets.

"Were you listening?"
"Yeah." Pause. "I guess he talked about x."
"What do you think about that?"
"I don't know. Good, I guess."

And now . . . the great teachable moment.

"You know, the president, the governor, all these politicians, the priest/rabbi: they're just people. We hope they mean well, but they can be wrong. So you always have to think about what they say."
"Okay."