How many times have you heard this— “children need a college education so they will have a good start in life.” How many times have you silently agreed to the notion that children need a “good education” so they can “make it” in “society?” How many of you are willing to take another look at these two universal constants of our current social rhetoric? Do you understand the difference between need and want?
As I said in my last post, there really is no such animal as “SOCIETY.” It is for this reason that arguments about society, and it’s condition, are always so unsatisfactory. We are all individuals, unique unto ourselves. We use the term society to refer to a collection of such individuals. This is a matter of verbal convenience—not a definition. Therefore, society = individuals.
And even though they use the term “society” for convenience’s sake, in their own minds, people only relate to the individual. For example, why else is there such objection to making broad, sweeping statements about Jews, blacks, women, Hispanics, republicans, democrats, etc., etc.? It is because such statements are an insult to the individual. They totally ignore the principle of the uniqueness of the individual and show no respect for or acknowledgement of it. Therefore, let us agree that the first basic function of society is to teach respect for the individual. Without this teaching, there is no society, there are only lots of individuals in a constant state of emotional anarchy.
Let us further agree that the first step in teaching respect for the individual is teaching respect for the self. The notion of “I” is, after all, the foundation on which all further understanding of the importance of the individual will be built. People who have no respect for themselves will assuredly not respect anyone else.
Taking this one step further we have–Respect for the self must be taught by the primary individuals in a person’s life—the parents. To any child, mom and dad are society, therefore, society = individuals = parents. So how can parents(society) teach the principle of self-respect?
This one is easy. They can’t.
It is not possible to “teach” self-respect to children, you have to provide them with it the same way you provide them with shelter, warmth, food, etc.. You do this by loving them. You do this by spending time with them because you love them and you like spending time with them. In this way the individual child will absorb the notion that they “matter” and this is the basis for self-respect. All children need this. There is no educational “system” that can substitute for this. It is called nurturing.
You see, self respect is absorbed from one’s emotional environment, especially(but not exclusively) by the young. Society(parents) cannot “teach” respect like a course in algebra. Parents can teach little ones their numbers, letters, and colors. Parents can teach growing children about gardening, cooking, auto repair, hunting, and fishing and sewing. As parents take the time and trouble to teach them these skills their children will automatically absorb a sense of self-respect and this self-respect will, in turn, allow them to respect others. They need a sense of self-respect and they need to have consideration for others, otherwise, nothing else they acquire or achieve in their lives will have meaning. Nurturing is what will give children a good start in life. Education, which is only information of various kinds, will not do this.
So now let’s take a look at the chain of ideas we have just created.
Society = individuals = parents = nurturing = self-respect = respect for others = a healthy society.
You will notice that education does not appear in this equation at all. That is because children do not need an education. It is not a physical or emotional requirement in raising a stable individual(society). If one has no education they will certainly feel the lack of it. In other words, they will want some education. For a healthy child, education will provide a broader point of social view, they will learn about other ways of living and earning a living and hopefully, develop some respect for others.
All of our social woes stem from the fact that education is being used as a substitute for nurturing. As a result of this, we are raising entire generations with a syndrome that pediatricians would diagnose as “failure to thrive.”
Counted Blessings
Posted in Single Steps, tagged blessings, Canada, conservative commentary, drug traffic, Mexico, Single Steps, vested interest on July 17, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Let’s take a moment to bring in good things. Of course we cannot fix what is wrong with America if we don’t realize where we went off the tracks but for this post we will forget wrong things and count our blessings.
We still voice our opinions fairly freely, without fear of reprisal, mostly. At least I do. I hope I am not alone in this. I see people who are still afraid to do so, and I hope my example will lend them some courage.
We are not under some super secret military regime. In spite of what you might see in the X-File episodes. Our military intelligence people are doing a job that the average civilian will never be able to appreciate. This is not because they are power mad megalomaniacs, it is because it is not possible to distill eighty years of expertise into the twenty-five words or less answers that the average citizen expects.
The land itself is beautiful. From sea to shining sea. I have traveled a bit in North America and I can say this with some personal truth. It is also productive. We have the best farm land on the planet. We have precious and semi precious gems, gold, silver, minerals, wood and abundant water. We have a population that is free-born. This means a great deal even two hundred years after the death of feudalism.
We have some very nice neighbors. Canada and Mexico. Can you appreciate what it means to live in a ‘nice’ neighborhood?
We coöperate more with these neighbors governments than many other countries could or would have. Personally, I think that our government should make a point of praising these people for this effort instead of letting all the news headlines focus on bones of contention like immigration or drug traffic. I am sure that the Canadian and Mexican governments have a few bones to pick with us, all is not sweetness and light but still, we are on speaking terms. I am grateful for that and count it a great blessing.
Today is a beautiful summer day here in Maine. Highs near 80, a slight breeze, sunny, and peaceful. I plan to have a cold one(or two) under the trees. I am very, very, grateful for being able to do this. I am thankful to everyone who has in any way contributed to my ability to do this without fear. I am not in fevered expectation of being overrun by Canadian forces intent on a military coup. Thank you Canada. Same for Mexico, thank you Mexico. I certainly hope that you both feel the same about America, although I am admitting that you may have more cause for concern than we do if you rely on the media for information.
One of the reasons I decided to publish this blog is to help stave off the assualt of the mindless, media fed yowling that is currently passing for politics in the U.S. I am an American citizen and I acknowledge the efforts and restraint of both our neighbors to the north and the south. I apologize for our media and their superficial coverage of certain story angles. I don’t believe everything I see or read in the media and I am sure that I am not alone in America in so doing. So I am casting my bread upon the waters of the internet today.
To listen to the American media we would think that every citizen in either country is parked at the border waiting to cross illegally, probably with masses of cocaine or grass for a grub stake. The highest ambition of these illegals is to live in idleness forever on the bliss of American welfare.
The truth is, the majority of Canadian and Mexican citizens stay home and mind their own business, as do we. The average citizens of all three countries are neighbors.
The media of all three countries are also neighbors after a fashion and it is this. They have the same vested interest — selling their product. Which is emotionally contentious stories that will guarantee readership. I am posting this blog to offset the nonsense they generate in their money-making frenzy.
The title of todays post is counted blessings. Canada and Mexico are right up there at the top of my list. They have been good neighbors to us. Have we been as good to them?
To all my neighbors near and far, who live in peace and mind their own business—–
May you enjoy the summer days and count your blessings in peace.
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