In all the news reporting I heard/watched today there was only one voice of reason, and it came from a 10 year old Canadian child – whose father died in the 9/11 attacks. The child asked his mother why there was no trial. Great question, but it was totally ignored. I was surprised it even made it on-air. In subtraction to this, there was no mention of what criminal charges were laid against Osama, or his accomplices. There was no mention that the FBI never even laid charges against Osama. There was no mention of all the mistakes and investigative inconclusiveness in the 9/11 reporting. Just a big parade of rhetoric.

The USA is the most proud nation I can think of. So proud that many Americans are offended when another country does not accept the USA’s interpretation of good politics. The USA has a fantastic Constitution, whereby the land is ruled by law and not men. Fair and just at it’s very core. Each state is sovereign in the union and they’re free to make laws that do not infringe upon the rights of others, as per the Constitution.

WAIT! That’s not at ALL what we know the USA to be like. They invade other countries after the dictators they push into power fail to follow the status quo, for obviously bull**** reasons that don’t matter in the long run because they never leave – regardless of mission success or fail. The US imposes its military might all over the world – all in the name of liberation, freedom, or defence of their borders – but they do not adhere to the rules by which they want the other countries to operate and they mass-murder hundreds of thousands of non-combatants in the process.

Why is this relevant? The rule of law puts the law in front of the emotions, power or influence of any man or group of men. – Man, in this context simply means human. – The rule of law levels the playing field so that no matter where a person originates; no matter a person’s finance; no matter that person’s influence; that person is granted the same rights and freedoms as any other man.  What is the point of laws if a specific group of men are exempt from them? And if there are exemptions – who has the power, right or authority to make such exemptions? How did they get that power? If one man can have his human rights taken away, then so can yours be taken away. If it is OK to murder Osama for crimes he is assumed to have committed, because he was hard to find, then it is ok to murder anyone else, including you.

Without the rule of law we have anarchy. This is where humans are supposed to be separate from the animals. Our ability to create complex social structures, instead of survival of the fittest, which is what the US is doing. The US the fittest and they’re imposing their will while we watch, while the middle-east is bombed into the stone-age. Who do you think the military machine will turn against when the middle-east is crushed?

Osama is dead – officially. That’s the news. Celebrating the death of a man, and the justification for his murder by soldiers, on another nation’s land, without permission/clearance/knowledge, is disgusting. I am ashamed to be part of a society that celebrates such barbaric ideals right in the face of law, democracy and human rights.

“I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

- Martin Luther King Jr.

In case I have not made my point clear: Had Osama been killed in a fire-fight as the soldiers attempted to arrest him, that’s an expected possibility of war. Had the media reported that, without celebration, then that’s news. However, the news reporters and the people interviewed, all celebrated that a man was intentionally killed, and only a 10 year old kid saw how that goes against everything we stand for and teach.

Canadians departing for active service in Europe during the Second World War, 1940. (National Archives of Canada C-38723)

I’ve thought quite a bit about this day, November 11th 2009. While I do not agree with war, nor the politics that lead us into wars, 11/11 is not about war or politics.

The fact is that well over 1,500,000 Canadians have served in the Armed Forces, and well over 100,000 of them have died in doing so. Remembrance Day is about us showing our appreciation to our fellow humans, who set out with a goal that they believed to be greater than themselves – not for their benefit, but for the benefit of their families, friends and nation under which they lived.

Today, your task is simple: At 11am, stand up… And say thank you to your fellow man, for standing up for what they believe in. I hope that one day we all can stand up for what we believe in too.

• The stimulus (TV/Porn/Movie/Music video/etc) sends A/V signals to the subject’s brain.
• The subject’s brain then processes what it is experiencing with eyes and ears.
• The subject is stationary, usually at rest, in a familiar setting and is comfortable there.
• The violent stimulus triggers natural fight or flight reactions in the subject’s brain, but the subject is not in any real danger, so the subject’s brain suppresses any reactions.
• Change the stimulus and the respective reactions take place in the brain, usually contrary to the subject’s state, and the brain suppresses further.
• There are no exciting videos of people sitting on their couches. The SIMS is the closest you’re going to get to that, haha, so the stimulus is almost always in direct contrast to the viewer’s current state.

Now, with that said, what happens when the brain reacts, then is suppressed – repeatedly? Well, over a 120 minute movie with the action, romance, and drama peaking and falling throughout, the brain gets a good workout. As an adult you’re used to it, but with a kid, they’re just learning to suppress these things, and what happens is they build up the feelings rather than suppressing them. So, at the end of a fighting movie they want to release that build up, and they act-out. At the end of a sad movie they might be on a downer, or appear saddened. Over time, they develop coping mechanisms, but some kids don’t and they act-out all the time, and as they grow up they act-out on a larger scale.

Think About It.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/10/20/how-television-affects-your-brain-chemistry-and-that-s-not-all.aspx

1.) Am I wrong to teach my 6 and 7 year old girls that people can LOOK good but might not BE good?

2.) Am I wrong to bring my 6 and 7 year old girls with me while I distribute H1N1 posters (at the grocery store, door to door etc)?

3.) Am I wrong to allow my 6 and 7 year old girls to hand out the H1N1 posters?

4.) Am I wrong to allow my 6 and 7 year old girls to take H1N1 posters to school with them to give to their friends?

5.) Am I wrong to teach my 6 and 7 year old girls what I honestly think about the Government, Global Warming, Vaccines, Religion, War, or the Military?

Please answer. I could really use some perspective.

Lance

Honesty is more appreciated than well padded politically correct replies.

I’ve already been called crazy by hundreds, called an asshole by countless others.

November 6, 2009 at 5:58pm ·

Becky

1.) Nothing wrong with telling them this. I think this is something they NEED to know.

2.) No, I think this is helping people to see that you really believe in what you’re talking about.

3.) I think you’re setting up a very positive path for your daughters growth. You’re teaching them to stand up for what they believe in, and not be afraid of the masses. They may end up becoming just the people we need in this world to make a real change.

4.) I’m not sure about this one. Will this effect their friendships or prevent them from being invited to b-day parties etc? Then again, do you care to have them hang around with or be invited to people’s houses who don’t believe in looking outside the box?

5.) Definitely teach them your opinions, but also make sure they know that it’s important to form their own.

November 6, 2009 at 6:30pm ·

Rose

as long as they are eventually able to form their own informed opinions without fear of judgement from the one they love. questioning authority is a good practice. saying that, it is my belief that extreme attitudes about anything is not healthy in childhood since kids often see the world in black and white and may not understand all shades of gray. not judging you or anything, just my opinion. I’d rather my kid see the world through rose-coloured glasses while still innocent and not have anxiety over things he can’t control.

November 6, 2009 at 7:15pm ·

Lana

My younger sister and I, though raised by the same parents, experienced very different upbringings. In my case, I was treated in a very “adult” fashion: watched the news with my parents, had exposure to their ideas about government, politics, religion/philosophy, etc. When my sister came along 6 years later, they decided they want to “keep her innocent”, and let her “be a child” for as long as possible. The end result? I’m fiercely independent, question everything that goes on around me (intent on being educated about it, rather than just accepting what is doled out by media and the like), am well read, and make a point of being aware and active in terms of the world I live in. My sister is an anxiety-riddled escapist who needs to be constantly reassured and told what to do. She has no opinions of her own (and doesn’t want them), because thinking outside the box is scary. She wants her answers spoon fed to her, believes that doctors and news media know best…
I am grateful for the upbringing that I received, and I agree with Becky that it’s important for your girls to hear your opinions, but to be encouraged to form their own (even if they differ from yours). Keeping children in a rosy happy place to somehow save them from the big bad world around them just seems to create simpering waifs with no coping mechanisms.

November 6, 2009 at 8:58pm ·

Rose

i think it is more of a personality thing. And also a moderation thing. i want to encourage my son to be independent, but at the same time protect him while he can still be protected. i know as a kid i worried a lot about things I couldn’t control and I don’t want the same for my child. At the same time, exposing the kid to politics etc and making them socially responsible is a good thing…i totally agree. But letting your 4 year old watch Schindlers list and explaining in detail what they did to the children isn’t exactly my cup of tea…..I prefer the rosy glasses. (this is an example from real life:S)

November 6, 2009 at 9:30pm ·

Lana

**chuckle** It also boils down to what is age appropriate. Schindler’s List for a 4 year old? Not so much. An 8 year old? Better. Still shitty, and would be best to wait ’til they’re older, but ultimately it depends on the child. I could have done without the nightmares wrought from Vietnam horror stories I heard from Daddy-O when I was 10 or so, but they certainly helped to instill a monumental sense of compassion for others, and a desire to fight against cruelty.

November 6, 2009 at 10:05pm ·

Tim

1: Definately not wrong (imo). I believe that may be one of the, if not the most important thing to teach your children. It is unbelievable the amount of time myself and people around me have been hurt, or betrayed by someone that they least expected it from. This will affect us in many ways. When it happens (weather we like to believe it or not) we automaticaly put up a wall to protect ourselves. Which will then lead us to maybe not trusting that person in the future, who very well could have been that “good person” in our lives.
I am very busy, but i will get back to you with the rest. (baby’s crying). again, not saying my answers will necessarily correct, but i agrre that it’s always good to have the opinion of peers.
If you believe you are being a good parent, then you most likely are. dn’t be so hard on yourself brotha from anotha motha!!!

November 6, 2009 at 10:17pm ·

Spencer

I haven’t ready everyone else’s comments (it’s early and I have to get to work), but I think these are really fair questions to ask and, in my view, demonstrates your thoughtfulness as a parent. A lot of parents bombard their kids with ideas without ever asking these questions, so good on ya.

First, as a caveat, I think “wrong” might be a heavy term and be careful not to be too hard on yourself if you discover after this inquiry that people you truly care about think that you are “wrong”.

From my perspective: I think #1 is a definite, *No it’s not wrong* to each them that just because people look good doesn’t mean that they ARE good. Every kid needs to learn that and if their parents don’t teach it to them, then they’ll learn it the hard way.

As for 2, I think it depends on why you’re bringing them with you. If it’s because you can’t find daycare or because you’re going anyway, that’s one thing, but if you’re bringing them with you to show that you in fact are a parent or otherwise to “further the cause” I think it’s a bit darker grey. No kid should be used as a weapon, be it in actual combat, political sparring, post-divorce family wrangling, or marketing, social or otherwise.

For 3, 4, & 5 I feel that it’s really a question of how ready your 6 & 7 year old girls are to think critically and decide for themselves what they think about the issues and the information they are able to collect. I know it’s possible for a 6 or 7 year old to be a genius, but the people whose responsibility it is to make decisions on these issues and topics (doctors, voters, and adults in general) are all 18+ so I do feel that it might be bit much to involve them in all this stuff when they’re still eleven years away from being in a position to choose for themselves, (“officially” speaking of course).

I think it’s perfectly natural for you to want what’s best for your girls and to help other parents find information to help them make decisions for their kids is a nice way to help other kids too. You’re also pretty good at respecting people who think and feel differently than you, and THAT’s something your girls can learn at ANY age.

November 8, 2009 at 8:44am ·