Not long ago, I was talking to some young male students (in their mid twenties) at the university where I teach. The topic turned to freedom and privacy. One of these young males turned to me and said “I don’t mind giving up my privacy. At least I’m safe.”
Xanthippa, they have already forgotten.
Worse. They were never taught what it is they should be remembering.
Which is precisely the result the cultural Marxists have been striving for.
Throughout human history, there have always been people ready to trade away their freedom for security. ALWAYS.
And, yes, it is also true that our schools are working very hard to enforce this view as somehow ‘peaceful’ and ‘desirable’ – and to villify anyone who shows moral fortitude.
Yet, young people DO learn. Let me tell you a story that might warm your heart.
Several years ago, two of my nieces (twins) – aged 15 at that time – were visiting Ottawa, so I took them to the War Memorial. It was at about sunset, and the whole setting looked VERY much like it does in the picture above.
As we were walking about, looking and talking, a group of about 8-10 youths (late teens, I’d guess) came up to the monumnent. They were all boys, rowdy and unruly – and tough looking. Two of them hopped up onto the tomb of the unknown soldier and started hollering about while the others laughed.
Before I could catch my breath, my nieces marched right up to them, and REALLY laid into them. Talking about respect and freedom and – well, manners. And being grateful that punks like them CAN be punks like them…
Slowly, the boys became rather sheepish. The air of violence dissipated, they slumped their shoulders and hung their heads a bit…
AND THEY APOLOGIZED!
As we left, they were standing, looking at the grave, and thinking.
December 6, 2008 at 17:26
Xanthippa:
Not long ago, I was talking to some young male students (in their mid twenties) at the university where I teach. The topic turned to freedom and privacy. One of these young males turned to me and said “I don’t mind giving up my privacy. At least I’m safe.”
Xanthippa, they have already forgotten.
Worse. They were never taught what it is they should be remembering.
Which is precisely the result the cultural Marxists have been striving for.
December 7, 2008 at 14:57
Codeslinger, there IS hope!
Throughout human history, there have always been people ready to trade away their freedom for security. ALWAYS.
And, yes, it is also true that our schools are working very hard to enforce this view as somehow ‘peaceful’ and ‘desirable’ – and to villify anyone who shows moral fortitude.
Yet, young people DO learn. Let me tell you a story that might warm your heart.
Several years ago, two of my nieces (twins) – aged 15 at that time – were visiting Ottawa, so I took them to the War Memorial. It was at about sunset, and the whole setting looked VERY much like it does in the picture above.
As we were walking about, looking and talking, a group of about 8-10 youths (late teens, I’d guess) came up to the monumnent. They were all boys, rowdy and unruly – and tough looking. Two of them hopped up onto the tomb of the unknown soldier and started hollering about while the others laughed.
Before I could catch my breath, my nieces marched right up to them, and REALLY laid into them. Talking about respect and freedom and – well, manners. And being grateful that punks like them CAN be punks like them…
Slowly, the boys became rather sheepish. The air of violence dissipated, they slumped their shoulders and hung their heads a bit…
AND THEY APOLOGIZED!
As we left, they were standing, looking at the grave, and thinking.
I HAVE HOPE IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE!