The Oil Drum

It's all about the future, yet nobody is asking the children what they want. Most of them would say "I want Mommy and Daddy to play with me, to cook pancakes, and to get me a puppy." That's it. The wisdom of children is more than the Fed.

Warning: Somewhat off topic.

Children have a very pure, caring morality. In part, because the adults around them inculcate it, basic principles of fairness etc. are important. Few tell young children, it is just great to rip off those other kindergarten kids and make money and hit other kids to make them obey. For another part, adults want children to believe they live in a stable, safe world, where morals count, because, to bring up their children, they need everyone to respect certain principles, *otherwise they can’t bring them up.* Then, there is also the basic perception of fairness, of evil, of hateful actions, of damage, or violence, that children just seem to grasp. (Naive justice.) That is a constant of human life. Yet, the basic principles are later abandoned, both by the children, and their parents. (Not in all cases of course.)

Here is Rachel Corrie in her 5th grade speech. Her destiny was exceptional, her speech is simply typical.

Corrie, youtube