Editor,
If we adults want kids to be honest, are we always honest with them?
If we adults want kids to be open and creative, do we welcome their questions, treasure their curiosity? Do they feel they can ask us about anything? If we want kids to be dependable, de we keep our promises? If we want kids to apologize and ask for forgiveness when they wrong us, do we apologize and ask forgiveness when we wrong them?
If we want kids to be affectionate, do they see us often warmly hugging our friends? If we want kids to reject all harmful drugs their friends offer them, do we reject all booze and junk food our friends offer us? If we want kids to treat all people with respect, do we ever tell or laugh at racist, sexist or homophobic jokes?
Are we two-faced? Do we hold grudges? Do we treasure people and our time instead of making big bucks and buying much stuff we do not need?
When adults teach kids to obey authority without questioning, sadly many of them become soldiers, murdering on command in Auschwitz, Vietnam, Iraq, Palestine, Chechnya, Afghanistan...Teach kids by our own lives to deeply question everything, to choose life-giving jobs for much less money, to follow conscience, to enjoy living simply, to walk, bike or ride the bus instead of drive and to do good to all people, including our enemies.
Don Schrader
