WHAT DOES PLAYBOY HAVE TO DO WITH 8TH GRADERS?

What are you going to believe -- me or your own eyes....?

The con man who joked about this wasn't really joking. Con men -- or women or companies or governments -- have this way of hustling the facts to make a point. Their point. I was reminded of that last night and then again this morning. Last night I watched a charming 8th grade play in one of our fine residential suburbs, and felt good about what I was seeing with my own eyes. But then this morning I woke up to a front page photo-story in the New York Times about 83-year-old Hugh Hefner, and I felt bad about what I was seeing with my own eyes.

The sharp dichotomy here sliced like a knife through my convictions about my country.

On one hand, these terrific kids -- supported by their terrific teachers and parents and friends -- seem to represent the best America we can be. Gifted beyond measure from so many of the inner-city school kids in crisis, these 8th graders seemed to capture the spirit of good and hope we like to find in our America. No doubt, from among these ranks will come many of tomorrow's brightest minds, richest entrepreneurs, greatest talents, and yes the men and women who will don the uniform to fight and protect us.

On the other hand, what my eyes saw on the Times front page was -- well, let me put it this way. A pathetic pajamed image of a man who sincerely believes he has done something important for America. I'm still not quite sure what that is, but at various times the Playboy Tycoon has spoken of providing: Men with a healthy sense of sexual freedom, writers a creative source of expression, and women -- lets see now, a pair of bunny ears!

This isn't meant to be cheap mockery. Hefner has been commercially successful. I've met his daughter Christie who seems to represent much of what the old man has claimed to be. However, the dichotomy remains. Healthy 8th grade kids growing up within the world of loving teachers, parents and peers, luckily far removed from the turmoil of the city's streets; in brittle contrast, a libidinous eighty-three-year-old bunny-chaser luckily far removed from the center of any real learning or creativity.

Two events. two sets of values. two Americas. two ways of looking into our future. Hef -- in his mansioned satin and sex -- living out his days as do we all. Somehow wanting to believe he made the trip worthwhile. Off the front page and back here in Hinsdale, a community of concern, care and expectations that their kids represent a bright tomorrow.

No one dares presume to judge another or to predict a future, but here's a guess that these fresh-faced kids will never wear bunny ears...!