Optimists

This last Thursday I went to a kindergarten graduation and then gave a presentation at an Optimist Club. What both events had in common: the pledge of allegiance. It struck how few places still give a pledge to the flag. I remember doing a pledge of allegiance when I was in grade school but now the only other place is at service organizations. One of the things I like about Optimist meetings (and I have spoken at approximately ten different clubs) is the positive Optimist Creed that the members recite at the end of the meeting. There are ten tenants of which one is particularly appropriate for all writers: “To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.”