RUSH: Okay, folks. We’re gonna take a brief break from the drudgery of the day to talk to a young 12-year-old representing the starry-eyed optimistic future of America. He’s a happy consumer and reader of the Rush Revere Time-Travels with Exceptional Americans Series. His name is Hugo, and he’s from North Little Rock, Arkansas. Hugo, are you 12 years old; is that right?
CALLER: Yes.
RUSH: Well, it’s great to have you here on the program. I know you’ve been holding out there for a while, and I want to thank you. I appreciate your holding on for so long. How are you doing today?
CALLER: I’m doing good.
CALLER: Snow day.
RUSH: Snow day! That’s… We didn’t have those when I was in school, Hugo. I remember I had to walk two miles to school with no coat and holes in my shoes. Kids today have it easy.
CALLER: (giggles)
RUSH: Nah, Hugo, that didn’t really happen. I was just making that up.
CALLER: Oh.
RUSH: We had adults in my day telling us how it was for them, so I just thought I’d pretend it was tough for me, too, when it wasn’t. So you’ve got a snow day so you’re out there listening to the program. Are you enjoying it?
CALLER: Yeah. You were talking about a lot of stuff that I’m interested in.
RUSH: That’s terrific at 12 years old. That is just simply encouraging and it’s amazing. And you like the Rush Revere series? That’s why you called?
CALLER: Yes. I love it.
RUSH: What about it did you like the best?
CALLER: I like how you plot out the characters. My favorite part is where Liberty… I only have the first one. Liberty went to the shoemaker place and he found some shoes.
RUSH: (laughing) Right.
CALLER: He time traveled back and smashed it out of the window.
RUSH: Right, right. He ends up wearing clogs. (chuckles)
CALLER: Yes.
RUSH: So you’re just starting. Have you finished reading the first book, Hugo?
CALLER: No, I’m halfway through.
RUSH: Halfway through it.
CALLER: It’s amazing, though!
RUSH: Oh, I’m glad you like it, I really am, because it’s written for your age. You’re right smack-dab in the middle of the age range that the book was written for.
CALLER: Yeah.
RUSH: And I don’t know what you’re learning so far about American history in school and what you’re gonna learn as you get older. But the reason that we’re doing these books is because we all love America here, and we want people to also love it. The truth of America is not taught as much today as it was when I was your age.
CALLER: Yeah.
RUSH: So these books are an effort for people like you to learn the truth about the founding of this country. You’re gonna hear conflicting stories as you grow up, but we want you to have the truth also in your mind as you’re growing up and learning other things.
CALLER: I totally agree with you, ’cause they only tell like half the story in my history class.
RUSH: And you already figured that out at age 12, that they’re only telling you half the story? That’s terrific, Hugo.
CALLER: Yeah.
RUSH: Well, we’re proud of you. I tell you what. You’ve only got the first book. I probably ought to get your parents’ permission for this, but I don’t think they would mind. If you wouldn’t mind giving Mr. Snerdley your address, I will send you the other two books so you’ll have all three.
CALLER: Okay.
RUSH: And I’ll send you the CDs, the audio versions, read by me, so if you get tired of reading, you can pop in one of those CDs and listen to it.
CALLER: Oh, wow! Thank you.
I mean, if we put as many kids on as are calling, it would be too much, so we space it out. But we have put together almost a nine- or ten-minute video on our Rush Revere Facebook page featuring the highlights of all the kids who’ve called the program before. When I say video, we’ve got some graphics that we’ve added to it. So when they talk about certain parts of the book we’ll put a graphic from it up, or pictures of some of the kids that have sent in their picture of them reading the book.
As is everything here, it’s well done. Folks, in a complicated, sometimes frustrating daily existence of the adult world, this little nine- to ten-minute video of these kids calling and sharing how much they enjoy these books is just cool. It’s heartwarming, and it’s encouraging. At least to me it is, because that’s the exact reason why we’re doing this. And, you know, I was just gonna say, it is amazing. Did you hear this? He’s 12 years old this young man, just 12 years old. This kid was smart, he was well spoken, he didn’t sound nervous.
He was composed, he wasn’t stammering or stuttering around, and I just think it’s great. I’m very, very proud to have kids like this that are becoming members of this audience. And I know their parents play a large role in this because parents are the ones that have to buy the books, and kids don’t have money themselves for the most part. So parents are key elements in this; we understand that. But if you have a moment and you want to be… oh, uplifted.
If you want a smile on your face, go over to the Rush Revere Facebook page. You can’t miss it. It’s near the top. Scroll all through it. We got some of the great videos and pictures that some of these kids and their parents have sent us. It’s quite interactive, and it’s really heartwarming for us, and I hope it would be for you, too, if you take the time. It’s our Rush Revere Facebook page. You can see this video we put together. It’s a montage of all the kids that have called over the past couple of months (or longer, actually) recounting their experiences and their enjoyment of the Rush Revere series.
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