Archive: Opinions

Two months ago, I received a phone call from my younger brother.  He began with words so familiar in my line of work that I thought he was joking, but he wasn’t joking.  My Dad had died earlier that morning in his sleep. 

After our mutual cry on the phone, we came to our senses and began to recite quotes from our Dad.   Our tears changed to hushed laughter as we recalled the many sayings that had been part of the myth and legend of our Dad.  His trademark phrase for us in our formative years was an oldie but goodie, “Because I said so.”

There was not a single argument that could overturn that ruling.  We could plead, bargain, bribe, and sell our souls, but nothing could change our Dad’s mind once those words came from his mouth.  We knew we were doomed to whatever fate awaited us.  We knew that our request would never receive the answer we had hoped for.

Like the Roman Emperor at the Gladiator Games, our Dad would sit in judgment with his newspaper on his lap and think for a moment about our humble plea before he brought a halt to my or my brothers’ plans.  Whether it was a request to ride our bikes through the creek after a heavy rain or stay out late on a school night, those four words possessed a force that most world leaders wished they had over their citizens. 

It was not fear that gave our Dad his power.  It was love with authority.  Our home was not a democracy.  There was a hierarchy with parents in charge.  There were simple rules-follow them and maybe you would get your request or maybe not.  Do your chores get your homework done, and just maybe you could watch your program on the one and only TV in the house.  In rare moments, requests were granted without uttering a single word leaving my brothers and me so confused that we spent hours wondering what was wrong with Dad.

I wish today’s parents would use that phrase just a bit more.  Parents are too easy with their kids.  I should know; I am guilty of this crime.  I cannot recall the last time I used, “Because I said so.”   It is such a terrific way to end a conversation that you really do not wish to have.  To be honest, I don’t know what my son would do if I uttered such a phrase.  He’d look at me and think I was speaking in Latin or Syriac. 

Instead of placing cameras in our schools, administrators and teachers ought to use those four words a bit more often.  A student comes up and asks a ridiculous question.  You answer, “No.”  The student asks, “Why not?”  You reply, “Because I said so.”  The student would say that you sound like his or her parent.  You would reply, “Good.”  It is so simple and elegant.  The discussion would be over.  The student would go back to his or her seat and mumble something like, “I’m never going to act like that when I’m an adult.” 

There would be no need for costly camera equipment.  No lengthy debates at school board meetings or messy litigation with the ACLU.   Teachers could go on teaching, administrators could continue to administrate, and parents could get some peace and quiet in between texts and tweets.  And that is to the point.  

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