I can remember when I was in the fifth grade. I spent a lot of time day dreaming. On one particular day the teacher told us that we were going to hold elections for Class President. As classroom instruction continued I went off into a day dream and was soon engaged with visions of George Washington at Valley Forge, Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg, and Barry Goldwater on the Six O'Clock evening news. Just about the time my mind was focusing on the infamous nuclear explosion used so effectively by the Johnson election committee the teacher got my attention.
"What would you do if you were elected President, Mark?" she asked.
My mind slowly shifted to the teacher, for I had been dazing out the window as usual. "What?" I asked. Some of the children giggled. They knew I had been caught day dreaming again.
"Paul has just nominated you for the position of President" my teacher explained. "Deanna has seconded the motion. What would you do if you were elected President?"
"Well... if I were President I would stop all of the people from building bombs, and tanks and guns. I would end the war and bring our boys back home. And if the enemy didn't want to stop the war then I would blow them up with a nuclear bomb. Then I would outlaw war, lower taxes and let black kids and white kids go to the same school..."
There was a long silence in the room. The teacher just looked at me with an astonished expression on her face. Then some of the kids giggled at me again. The teacher then cleared her throat and the class became quiet again. "That's all well and fine, Mark." she said. "But, what would you do if you were elected Class President?"
I thought for a moment and then replied, "Well... the same thing I guess. Except, I would try to be everybody's friend."
"Is there anything else you would like to say, Mark?"
"Uhhh, yeah. I nominate Paul for Class President."
I don't recall Paul's nomination speech, but he was elected Class President. Unfortunately, I missed my golden opportunity to end war once and forever... by one vote. Mine.
