I remember watching Chet Huntley and David Brinkley on the network nightly news, even though I was in grade school at the time. My father watched them every night, and insisted that everyone else watch too — my mother, me, and even my little brother. At first my brother thought this was a great privilege, to be able to watch a grown up program with Dad. But he soon became bored and squirmed all through the show. Still, Dad insisted he be in the room, because Dad thought watching the news was a way to understand your country’s history. He believed children should have their minds stretched as far as possible, at every available opportunity.
I actually liked watching Huntley/Brinkley, not because I was interested in the news or in either of those (to me) old and boring men, but because during the commercials my father would discuss what we had just heard, and he directed most of his remarks to me – and then listened to my replies. And although most of my remarks must have been very funny, I don’t remember him ever laughing at me. Instead I felt flattered that he wanted my opinion. So I started really watching the news just so I could have an opinion to share.
Dad was a wily old fox. Also a good father. Who knows, if I hadn’t watched Huntley Brinkley when I was a child, maybe I wouldn’t have developed the love of history that has informed and blessed my life.
If you’d care to share a story about this topic, please leave a comment here. At the end of each month I’ll gather up the Sharing History comments and pick one at random from a drawing, and send the winner of the drawing my e-book: your choice of a Making History Workbook.
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