MAKING THE UNACCEPTABLE ACCEPTABLE By Domenick J. Maglio PhD. Traditional Realist The United States has been and is increasingly becoming a obtuse culture. What was Black and White has become grey and subtle and at times extremely confusing. Things in the past were mostly right or wrong. There was consistency of expectations at home, school, church and in public. Many of us followed biblical values and practices. Things that protected oneself, family, and nation have radically been weakened. Our “woke” news media reports on certain incidents that attempt to delve into the life story of the perpetrator to give the reader a more empathetic view of their brazen and often destructive acts. The “whitewashing” of unjustifiable actions is undermining the individual and the public’s ability to enforce standards and blurring the line between right and wrong. The less clear the distinction there is between these behaviors the weaker a person’s power to decide which choice is better. Blurring good and bad, right and wrong, is weakening our moral code. When this difference between positive and negative behavior is weakened, so is the general public’s ability to make good decisions. We must understand which specific actions are advantageous or destructive for a person or nation’s future. We need to return to biblical values that have been the fundamental foundation of successful people and countries throughout history. We see the use of scientific theories and confusing words to minimize despicable acts. This is an attempt to reduce negative feelings toward the criminal behavior. It also tries to make the harmful act more acceptable to the general public. When being punished rightfully for his unacceptable behavior he is also a victim even though he started the whole thing. For instance, a pedophile is a person who preys on young, innocent victims but now has become a “minor attracted person” to lessen the evil connotation. An illegal immigrant is rarely sent back to the country of origin but is now considered as a “newcomer” to this country. At this time abortion is “a woman’s right to choose” even though a newborn child’s life is snuffed out. Everything is blurred even someone born as a female can now become a “male.” Justifying the unjustifiable is now commonplace. Our media is even attempting to change what the public sees what their own eyes. For example, during the summer of 2020 which was called “the summer of love” even though behind the broadcasters was seen burning buildings and vehicles, while it was said to be a “peaceful demonstration.” The reality was many people were killed, police officers were injured and many businesses were destroyed leaving many people without income. Our media is no longer reporting and showing the news as it happens. It is creating the news by making wild interpretations about what is happening in front of them. This is being done by the reporters according to their own viewpoints. Instead of showing and reporting the facts of what is in front of them they are creating the storyline according to their own value system. Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers and blogs, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. Dr. Maglio is an author of weekly newspaper articles, INVASION WITHIN and the latest book entitled, IN CHARGE PARENTING In a PC World. You can see many of Dr. Maglio’s articles at www.drmaglioblogspot.com.

HUMILITY IS BEING LOST IN OUR CULTURE By Domenick J. Maglio PhD. Traditional Realist In our modern culture our roots are shallow and weak. Mobility is more important than stability in this rapidly changing world. We often move for better employment, education opportunities, and benefits. Our families, although smaller than in the past, send only shallow roots down for every new employment adventure. Every time a family moves to another area, the process becomes easier and more routine. Since moving is more routine than in the recent past, modern individuals must introduce themselves to an entirely new neighborhood and workplace. Obviously, we put our best foot forward by embellishing the importance of our own positions and successes. We continually become our own promoters leaving out failures, missteps, and humility. Our children lose contact with their relatives and friends on a regular basis which makes it even easier for them as adults to move anywhere that captures their fancy for their own employment. The problem with the upward mobility lifestyle is that we start to believe our own self promotions and rationalizations forgetting any problems we had to overcome to be successful. Our self-narratives become more and more skewed removing all the hard times and help we received on our own journey to our present lifestyle. Once again showing humility for our personal growth is forgotten. This journey of our own aggrandizement begins usually with a new parenting philosophy. Our career success often minimizes our involvement in building a positive and strong family environment. Throughout our lives the family does not disappoint but just evolves into a different platform in the environment of our adult children’s life. These various phases of our offspring like their family’s growth are some of the most important functions of the family system. The children of these families become the best parents they can be. When people in general review their life, it is easy to overlook or forget all the involvement and assistance of others. Strangers, friends and family members guide us in becoming successful. We are deceiving ourselves as too many of us are inordinately taking credit for our own success without realizing the contributions others have given in the accomplishments in every aspect of our lives. This is a false narrative that often leads the individual to ignore the others who have given a hand. Once we selfishly disregard all the assistance from our family and important people in our lives, we are creating a distorted version of them. The success that we were fortunate enough to accomplish was done with the assistance of many others is more accurate. Our parents, teachers, friends, heroes and many others have laid the foundation that inspires us to reach far beyond our wildest expectations. All of us should honestly and humbly review our lives and thank our lucky stars for all those who helped us in establishing our goals and reaching them instead of falsely taking full credit for the entire process. Giving credit to those who helped us accomplish our goals and dreams is the way we can redeem and build up a healthy foundation of humility in ourselves and pass it on to others. All people that have succeeded in their lives had many others who provided help and in inspiration. By not being humble and acknowledging those who assisted us in our lives, we are creating a false and distorted picture of our triumphs and defeats. Humility is the key to keeping us on the track to success. Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers and blogs, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. Dr. Maglio is an author of weekly newspaper articles, INVASION WITHIN and the latest book entitled, IN CHARGE PARENTING In a PC World. You can see many of Dr. Maglio’s articles at www.drmaglioblogspot.com.

EACH STUDENT HAS TO LEARN HOW BEST THEY LEARN By Domenick J. Maglio PhD. Traditional Realist Each individual student is unique in many ways. They may be similar in their behavior patterns however their differences become evident as familiarity increases between teacher and student. The more involvement with the individual the greater the teacher learns specific things about them that leads to greater understanding of the person. The more blanks that are filled in for both of them the better they know and anticipate each other. It takes time, effort and some forgiveness with the inevitable conflicts that often arise. The development of a positive relationship between student and teacher grows when the student realizes the help given is good for their development. This task is complex and not easy to accomplish. A competent teacher must develop specific methods to use with each student. The correct type of approach for an individual student increases with knowing each one. Some teachers must discuss the assignment before getting into the specifics of what motivates the student. Learning what motivates the student’s strengths and interests helps the teacher connect with the student and the student to excel in their academics. To become an excellent teacher the person must become aware of student strengths and weaknesses. No student is perfect in everything, and everyone should be assisted to become more motivated to improve no matter how advanced they are in a particular area. Most students will eventually “hit a wall” in one subject or another. If the teacher has not learned to challenge the student without alienating them it can become a more serious problem. The teacher must be aware not to offend the student instead help them to get the information in a different way and in smaller bites. In large junior and senior high schools and certainly in most colleges and universities the student has to take over responsibility for their own motivation. It becomes impossible for a teacher to know each student in large classes and each one’s learning style. At this juncture of their development, the individual student has learned their strengths and weaknesses. Individual student learning and motivation techniques probably have developed in the lower grades where the teacher could work with them individually. A close relationship is being lost even in the lower grades as too many public schools are providing cost efficient education that leaves out the necessary and important personal interaction with each child. Today even in lower grades, many students are no longer provided personal instruction to learn how to overcome their academic weaknesses. Dedicated teachers of younger children are essential to place a student on the right track with the necessary skills to be successful. As the student advances in age, they must learn what is their own, personal method to use to learn most effectively. Generally, these skills should be nurtured by dedicated teachers in the elementary grades with the support of the parents. If the student did not develop these skills in their school experience before entering the higher grades, they can and should teach themselves. Any mature student who wants to be successful in academics or in a professional environment should push themselves to be the best learner they can be. Teachers may have helped the student gain many skills and strategic approaches but ultimately it is up to the student to implement them. During a student’s academic training they gain sufficient knowledge to guide them to become the best learner they can be. They need to focus their critical attention on what they particularly must do to obtain the optional academic excellence in each activity. They become their own “best teacher.” Domenick Maglio, PhD. is a columnist carried by various newspapers and blogs, an author of several books and owner/director of Wider Horizons School, a college prep program. Dr. Maglio is an author of weekly newspaper articles, INVASION WITHIN and the latest book entitled, IN CHARGE PARENTING In a PC World. You can see many of Dr. Maglio’s articles at www.drmaglioblogspot.com.