Embarrassing exchange

It’s easy to focus on the negative. It’s more important to remember who we are fighting for.

Last week, I did something embarrassing.

I was reaching out to a foundation to see if we could partner. This wasn’t any foundation, this was an organization that is doing amazing philanthropy. In fact, one of the books written by the founder is currently sitting on my desk.

In other words, I’ve admired them for a while.

So I sent off an email about the work that we are doing to stop Senate Amendment 1. I laid out the destruction that we have seen in Chicago because of the Chicago Teachers Union. I made a case for the importance of stopping the radicalized socialist agenda that is growing among our teachers and their unions.

Then I hit “send.”

I received a reply that said, “My immediate reaction, for what it’s worth, is yes these developments are troubling, but I’m much more interested in you telling me what you’re for, not against. Make the positive case for how liberty contributes to human flourishing and is essential for living a life filled with purpose and meaning.” 

Her response still feels like a gut-punch.

Of course. I never once mentioned who we were trying to help.

I could have mentioned Joe Ocol, a CPS teacher who started an after-school chess team because one of his students got shot after school. He has since gone on to help several of his students become national chess champions. But since he crossed the Chicago Teachers Union picket line twice to be with his students, the school financial support has completely dried up.

We are fighting for Joe Ocol and his students to have a better life.

I could have talked about Bose Clodfelter, whose husband lost his job, and her father was murdered in the same year. To make matters worse, the Clodfelters could no longer afford to send their children to the private school that was their lifeline to a better life. Fortunately, because of the Invest in Kids tax credit scholarship program, Bose’s children were given a second chance. They stayed in the school at which they were flourishing.

We are fighting for the Clodfelter family. We are fighting for thousands of other parents who want a choice about where to send their kids, but don’t have the money.

Joe and Bose are who I wish I had talked about in the email to the foundation last week.

It’s easy to focus on the negative. It’s more important to remember who we are fighting for.

I’ve learned my lesson. I’m not going to be embarrassed like that again.