Dads Read Too

JER: “ I AM A CAT ” by Galia Bernstein seems very relevant for today, July 4th - American Independence Day, and it feels like an opportune way to discuss what it means to be “American”. The story is all about a domestic house cat, named Simon, who is trying to convince a group of large, wild cats that they are all part of the same big “cat family”.    The lion argues that Simon can’t be a “cat”, because lions are cats and have a mane and a tuft at the end if their tail.    Cheetah argues that cats are graceful creatures who run faster than all the other animals.    Puma argues that cats live in the mountains, leap far, jump high, and act tough.    Panther argues that cats are black and live in the Jungle.    Tiger argues that cats are very strong and very, very orange.    But Simon is able to show the large, wild cats that each of their arguments are unique to them, and they actually have a lot in common, like small...

JER: “Not Quite Narwhal”  by Jessie Sima is all about self-awareness and discovery.  The protagonist - Kelp - struggles to figure out why he isn’t a very strong swimmer, and why he doesn’t seem to be like the other narwhals.  Eventually, Kelp journeys up onto the land after seeing a mysterious “land narwhal” on a cliff above the water.  Kelp realizes that he might actually be a “land narwhal”, or as he comes to find out, a “unicorn”.   I relate to this story in a small way.  I am the son of a Danish immigrant father and an American mother - who seems to have more Danish pride than my father.    I grew up with a lot of cognitive dissonance arising from “survival of the fittest” naked Capitalism and “American exceptionalism”.  I wasn’t able to fully understand that American culture may have been causing me some discomfort until I was able to live in Hong Kong for two years.  For once, I felt like I was surrounded by quiet, cons...