Dear Editor,
As I’ve watched the coverage of the protest in Wisconsin, I am convinced more than ever that our nation is in serious trouble.
We have seen those who profess that everything they do is for the children, shut down schools because they chose to call in sick and attend protests.  Some students have been encouraged to attend the protest with absolutely no understanding of why they are there. 
Then we see doctors at the demonstrations, offering teachers notes documenting illness, so their absence from the classroom would be an excusable absence, while everyone in the nation knows they are in Madison.
I have no beef with those that want to exercise their freedom of speech or to peaceably assemble and petition the government for a redress of grievances. 
I do, however, take issue with those that would use a child, or lie to get a note from a doctor to assure their recent absence is excused, or any doctor that would willingly lie and hand out one of these notes knowing absolutely nothing about the person in question.
Is this really the example we want to set for our children? 
Are we really OK saying to our kids, it’s OK to skip out on your boss by calling in sick when you aren’t sick? 
It’s OK to get a bogus note to support your excuse of illness so when you are ready, you can go back to work and it’s OK to manipulate impressionable kids.
I do not believe these are the principles and values most Americans live. 
Nor do I believe these are the examples we want our children to emulate. 
We have a great opportunity to show our children the difference between right and wrong. 
And yes, there is a right and wrong.
Kyle Radenberg,
Great Bend