Doc Sheridan

 What I am about to say transcends politics. This is not a voice of support for a candidate, but an opinion. My opposition to the Op-Ed piece in the Wall Street Journal by Joseph Epstein, concerning Dr. Jill Biden and her use of the title Dr. This opinion has nothing to do with sexism, political correctness, politics, or anything other than my opinion based on my life experience.

When I was in high school, there was an teacher (they did that in those days) named Dr. Jay Sheridan. He was an English teacher. He had served as a tank driver in Vietnam. I was an unruly student in one of his English classes as a Senior. I wrote a poem one time, and showed it to Doc, as I called him. He graded it and critiqued it, and told me that some more would help my grade. So I did more. We talked, and Doc told me that if I wanted to have my voice heard in life, that I should consider doing it through writing. That I also should consider college, where I could further that. I was not headed for college, I was headed to work. I was a hard harsh young man, and didn't think I belonged in college. But Doc Sheridan thought I did. So later on, after I was expelled from high school, I worked, and then started to attend college. It was there I got my voice as an adult. Through writing. I have written some 100 poems, some good, most not, and some published, most not. I have written countless essays, for class, and myself. I have also dabbled in a couple short stories. Now I am not claiming excellence in writing. I am a decent writer, as I have been told by better writers than myself. That is great, but not the reason I traveled down the writing road. I traveled down that road because someone gave me the courage to go that way. A teacher with a Doctorate in English; Dr. Jay Sheridan, helped me at a time when I was lost. I have screwed up everything in my life because of ignorance and arrogance, except my writing and my marriage, of which I have no regrets.

In his piece Joseph Epstein, commented; ""A wise man once said that no one should call himself 'Dr.' unless he has delivered a child," that is dumbest thing I have heard since; well ever. So an EMT should be considered a doctor, because they delivered a baby, or a police officer? I take exception to that.

Dr. Sheridan was a Doctor of English I believe. One Doctor, an M.D. fixes the body, and the other in English fixes the soul, both are integral to the maturing of a person. Trust me, English can have a positive affect even if they don't know it. That same year I had another teacher, Mrs. Sylvia Allen. She saw where I was going, and offered to be a reference when I went out and got a job. I have always appreciated that, and have never forgotten that one act of kindness to a troublesome young man, with no direction.

So to say that the title Dr. should be only be bestowed on medical doctors, because they are the only ones who do good with their knowledge, is insulting, and plain stupid. A doctorate in medicine, psychology, law, English or what have you, denotes that the person has enough understanding, and life experience of a subject, to help others, and that should never be derided. Doc Sheridan is no longer with us, and that is a shame. The world is a lesser place without him. Mrs. Allen is still with us, and remains a source for knowledge.

Call the lady Dr. and quit making a problem where there are none. We have enough problems to solve as it is. Anyway, that is my opinion. on that. Have a nice day, and God Bless all, and God Bless the United States of America.