The following is by John Doggett and lifted verbatim from a
"conservative" website. While I don't agree with everything Mr. Doggett
has to say - for one, I am not a Christian - there is much here of value
to consider.
>Who Is Raising Your Children?
>
>
> "The two highest achievements of the human
> mind are the twin concepts of "loyalty" and
> "duty." Whenever these twin concepts fall
> into disrepute -- get out fast! You may possibly
> save yourself, but it is too late to save that
> society. It is doomed."
> -- Robert A. Heinlein
>
> They allowed the kids back into Columbine High
> School this week. In small groups, they retrieved their
> personal belongings from their lockers. They were not,
> however, allowed to go into the library. That is where
> they murdered most of the people. That is where these
> precious kids lost their innocence.
>
> America is at a crucial turning point. Generation X is
> turning into Generation Death. Our children are crying
> out to us that they need something that too few of their
> parents are willing to give them: time, attention, love and
> respect. Politicians and the preachers are searching for
> scapegoats and answers. To be sure, Hollywood and
> the video game manufacturers are partly to blame for
> the growth of a culture of violence. However,
> Hollywood does not conceive kids. Video game
> manufacturers cannot force themselves into a child's life.
> Kids come from parents and too many parents are
> failing their kids.
>
> Listen to the words of Hillary Clinton as she prepares to
> run for the U.S. Senate: "We are going to have to do
> some serious thinking in this country about how we can
> take more control over what our children see and
> experience."
>
> "The constant exposure to violence on TV, in the
> movies, on video games, in music -- there's much too
> much evidence that children get desensitized ..." she
> said. "There's so much of it. We're awash in it. ... We
> can no longer shut our eyes to the impact the media is
> having on all our children, and the potentially violent
> impact it is having on some of them."
>
> Hillary added: "We need to stand up and say what
> needs to be said about guns and firearms."
>
> Not one mention of parents. Not one mention of
> churches. Not one mention of commitment and duty to
> children, country and God.
>
> Liberals are convinced that the solution is to ban guns,
> install metal detectors at all schools, and hire armed
> guards to protect our children. However, what police
> office will protect what our children hear and see on
> television, at the movies or on their computer.
>
> No, my friends, the simplistic liberal answers to this
> explosion of school violence don't work. In fact, we are
> now seeing the results of decades of liberal
> permissiveness, insane ACLU lawsuits, and the idea that
> we can get something for nothing.
>
> Nevertheless, liberals are not the only ones responsible
> for this carnage. Conservatives have failed also. Too
> often my conservative friends have been too
> comfortable complaining about what is wrong, while the
> other side is working to further their nihilistic vision. Too
> often my Christian friends worship in segregated
> churches that would turn away Jesus if he showed up in
> a dirty robe and sandals.
>
> Part of the problem is that today's parents don't appear
> to know what their role should be in raising their
> children. Part of the problem is that far too many
> parents are letting television, video games and the
> movies teach their children what it means to be an adult.
>
> In 1923, Kahlil Gibran wrote a book of poems called,
> "The Prophet." Listen to Kahlil as he talks about
> Children. Do you think the parents of America's child
> murderers understand his words?
>
> On Children
>
> And a woman who held a babe against her
> bosom said, Speak to us of Children.
> And he said:
> Your children are not your children.
> They are the sons and daughters of Life's
> longing for itself.
> They come through you but not from you,
> And though they are with you yet they belong not
> to
> you.
>
> You may give them your love but not your
> thoughts,
> For they have their own thoughts.
> You may house their bodies but not their souls,
> For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
> which
> you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
> You may strive to be like them, but seek not to
> make
> them like you.
> For life goes not backward nor tarries with
> yesterday.
> You are the bows from which your children as
> living
> arrows are sent forth.
> The archer sees the mark upon the path of the
> infinite,
> and He bends you with his might that His arrows
> may go
> swift and far.
>
> Let your bending in the Archer's hand be for
> gladness;
> For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He
> loves also
> the bow that is stable.
>
> Are we doomed, my friends? I don't think so. Because
> the solution to the problem of the disaffected generation
> is simple. All we have to do is place parenting ahead of
> everything else. All we have to do is to make our
> children our number one priorities. All we have to do is
> to know who they are, what they are learning and love
> them and work with them.
>
> Eventually, everyone who is alive will die, but the world
> will go on because our children will become adults. If
> we want that new world to be one that we are proud of,
> the time for blame has passed. It is time for all of us to
> be the best parents for our children and the children of
> the world as possible. It is time for us to make parenting
> respectable again.
>
> Who is raising our children, my friend? Are they
> teaching them about God and wisdom, or mindless
> gratification and evil? Our children are God's greatest
> gift to us. Let us not waste this priceless gift.
>
>
> John Doggett is a management consultant, lawyer,
> and business school professor who lives in Austin, Texas.
Mary Wittler wrote:
> When I proposed the idea of equating child-rearing with military service it was just an
> off-the-cuff idea. But now that I've thought about it for a couple of days it just keeps
> growing and growing in my mind. Giving the next generation a good start has got to be equal
> if not more important to a nation than its own defense. For some people, this will no doubt
> equate with "welfare Mothers", whom we are at this moment busily trying to eliminate in this
> country. But it's not the same thing at all. You could structure the system, give it
> parameters such as time limits or limits on the number of children per woman (yes, per woman
> since it is a woman after all who actually bears the child!) In fact, you could follow many
> of the patterns already in use for military service to shape a system that gives everyone an
> equal opportunity at parenting.
>
Ever read Brave New World?
> Help me here folks! I like this idea so much I want to send a letter to Hillary about it. I
> think equating it with military service is the key - the way to sell it to conservatives.
Let's institute the draft for welfare queens! That might work.
> Thoughts anyone?
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