why Arthur can be world president and i cannot

The easiest way for me to explain why i cannot be world president is: i'm a humble Michigan boy and will always be a humble Michigan boy. That's the way i see myself and am content with that. As a teenager, i toyed with the idea of world emperor but honestly, i don't want the headaches. So if someone were to offer me world presidency or emperorship, i would have to politely decline .. Now Arthur is another story completely. :)

If i have anything to do with my son's education and upbringing it will include the following:
the two concepts of trust and respect integrated into his character and heart
history, political science, sociology, and philosophy
mathematics and aerospace engineering
aviation
Aviation because i want him to have a marketable skill and for the joy of flight. Mathematics because that's the language and core of science. Aerospace because again, i want him to have a marketable skill and also know intimately an application area of math; i want him to know why we can fly and how it works. Philosophy because in many ways, that's the basis of math. Sociology because i want him to understand group dynamics/behavior. Political science so he will understand the theory behind our government structures. And finally history so he can learn about our tragic mistakes - so he won't repeat them.

i envision his role as world president to include the following future scenario: imagine two neighboring countries declare war for some reason (perhaps a struggle over local resources or ideology), his role as prime negotiator would be to sit down with the two leaders, bring them together, shake hands, and bond with them. He would have to find common ground for them to negotiate through him and eventually without him. Arthur must study those areas above because they are required for any good leader. And he MUST have respect and trust internalized because without those, he cannot know true love and cannot be a good man.

For me, it's kinda too late.. i've spent the last 40 years trying to internalize respect but still make mistakes like letting my anger at complacency in physics get the best of me at times.. i know i'm human but .. how can i not practice what i preach? i MUST. So from this 'bad history', i don't think i'd make a good world leader.. Besides, i don't have the formal training listed above. So i have two strikes against me. The only thing i have going for me are two things: keeping humility in my heart and my balanced perspective. Those are the only things that would allow me to be any kind of success in that role.. i still think it'd be better if we trained Arthur for it.

Today, i explained (remember he's 3) the basics of above to him as i held him in my arms on the front porch (cement slab). He patiently listened. Of course - i know his mind does not understand yet.. But i believe his spirit and heart do .. i think what's most important for me about Arthur's presidency is that he rule without ego - like Gandhi .. This morning my family called over Skype and i was able to see cousins i haven't seen for years (they called from my mother's home). We only had a very brief time together so i had to make things quick. i tried to convey the importance of my physics research and introduce them to Arthur (they had not met him yet). Arthur got to visit with mommy (his mom) a little .. The only point when things got outa hand was when she tried to force me to educate Arthur English (i do that as a matter of course). This came up because i stressed the importance of respect in Thai culture and future human civilization. i'm not exactly sure why she wanted to force me into submission in front of my brother, mother, and cousins.. Perhaps it's an insecurity of hers.. i prefer not to think about it.. i got a little emotional and said "Respect is more important than language." and tried to explain my reasoning.. But time was brief and i didn't really want to make a scene. My mother assured me she understood what "i'm trying to do here" in Thailand with my son.. So at least someone understands..

Today i spoke with grandma (the Thai grandma) the about the importance of Arthur's socialization and being with mommy. But they're pretty insistent mommy is not coming back - not anytime soon anyways.. She's accepted the role of providing for the family and that keeps her in America where she can make a decent income (depending on the spending climate in Miami). When perceptions are good, she can make money as a nail technician but when things are not so good - not very much.. So our little family is divided because of the reality of economics and also because she very desperately needs her freedom from me. Perhaps i'm just too old for her.. i've given up trying to figure out why 'we don't work' and trying to 'make things work' between us (it can only work when both want that). So if any good man in his twenties or thirties wants to make a go of it with her (living near Miami, FL), please feel free to pursue her. Her email is ;) hehe - just write to me (my email) and i'll give it to you. She prefers rich, confident, good looking men but the two most important things are: rich and "loves her" (her own words). So.. Good luck to you guys if you want her.. She's proven to me consistently she cannot respect me, cannot accept me for who i am, and cannot believe in me (as her man). Perhaps we were never meant to be (only make Arthur and that's it). Arthur's incredibly cute and intelligent (i scored 148 IQ on one test and his mom has incredible 'street smarts') so i have no doubts whatsoever he can be a good world president/emperor. And i believe we need someone like him to guide us through the rough times ahead.. Vote for Arthur! ;)

Wasn't it Henny Youngman who said "Take my wife please!" hehe..

PS - i've consistently told friends and family i won't be remembered for my physics; i'll be remembered most for being father to Arthur Micheal.
PPS - if for some odd reason i don't make it to Arthur's high school graduation, please make sure he gets this letter and that he knows his poppa loves him very very much..