How do we affect the culture of our nation? One way is to honor those who life and actions exemplify the character and values we hope to instill in our culture. As a nation, we used to hold this idea as a subconscious truth which we all believed and followed. More recently, our culture is reflecting the character and the actions of these people we choose to venerate, such as Kim Kardashian, a person famous for releasing a sex tape.
Do we want our nation’s culture to be defined by Kim Kardashian or maybe a person such as Kendrick Castillo, who gave his own life in defense of his classmates in the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting on May 7, 2019.
When the shooter pulled out a gun and told people not to move, Kendrick rushed the shooter attempting to subdue him along with two of his friends, while the rest of the class fled the room. The shooter shot back hitting Kendrick in his chest and wounding one of his friends. Kendrick Castillo died as a result of his heroic and life saving action. “I know that because of what he did, others are alive, and I thank God for that. I love him. And he is a hero and he always will be,” his dad, John Castillo, said.
While we might not be able to get millions of people to unlike Kim Kardashian, we can show that we value the life and actions of Kendrick Castillo, who refused to be a victim, by recognizing him with the highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Presidential Medal of Freedom honors those people who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
If you believe as I do that we want of culture to reflect the character and actions of Kendrick Castillo and not that of a Kim Kardashian, I ask you show your support by signing the petition at We the People asking President Trump to recognize his sacrifice to our national ideals.
Go to https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/award-medal-freedom-kendrick-castillo-giving-his-life-save-his-classmates-stem-school-shooting and sign the petition. We need 100,000 signatures by June 14, 2019, to bring the issue to President Trump’s attention. Please share with your friends and acquaintances. Thank you.