Moving Forward

After months of television and radio advertisements, phone calls, yard signs, nationally televised debates and any number of conversations and/or arguments with family and friends, Election Season 2012 is finally over. While the popular vote for President was quite close, the philosophical divide between supporters of the candidates could not be broader. Therefore, it is logical to ask where we go from here?

Regardless of political affiliation and ideology, we owe it to our children to make education a priority now and into the future.  We must focus not just on the rote recitation of facts, but more importantly upon critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity/innovation. In addition, job creation, health care access and cost containment, the security of our Nation and stability in the Middle East are all issues that demand immediate attention. 

As is often the case, I believe we can learn from history. In a speech given the summer after the Cuban Missile Crisis, President Kennedy said, "Let us not be blind to our differences - but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those interests can be solved." It is time to start solving problems instead of arguing about who created them.