Let’s face it. 2020 has been less than great, at least so far. We as adults are learning to change and cope with the crises as they come. Maybe, though, we need to take a closer look at what the events are doing to the minds of our children.
In the last two weeks I have heard from an elementary student that it is better to live in the ‘middle of nowhere’ because the bad people in the city won’t come and burn down your house. Obviously, he had been exposed to one too many TV news soundbite from protest-turned-violent. He was genuinely afraid someone was going to come and hurt him and his family, and that someone could be law enforcement. Like most young children he can’t differentiate between what he sees on the screen with what is happening where he lives.
That cannot be said for recent high school graduates. One told me this week that he believes the American Republic cannot survive much longer. In his opinion there is too much divisiveness that cannot be healed. He sees an imminent breakdown of our society with each angry faction, whether legitimately angry or simply fearful of loss of privilege, ripping the others to shreds both verbally and probably physically. He sees the day when law enforcement can no longer retain order, no one respects politicians and lawmakers, rendering them powerless to stop the tornado of unrest, followed by a total breakdown of protection, the power grid and the food supply chain. Basically, he believes a Mad Max world is on the way, fast.
How can we as adults, parents, grandparents address these fears when we are probably thinking some of the same things ourselves?
First, I think, we must recognize their fears and not make light of them. Very young children should have limited exposure to violent footage, whether on the nightly news or social media.
We should explain why people are angry, to the best of our ability, avoiding stereotypes and racism and explaining economic divisions as well. Older students could be encouraged to develop what they think may be part of the solution rather than being sidelined by fear.
Lastly, all kids should be shown that no matter what another person looks like, we are all the same, no matter the color of our skin, our income or the uniform we wear. And that it is never right to treat someone shabbily because they are a different race, make more or less than we do, live in a certain neighborhood or have a certain job. Never right to harm someone because of any of those things, and never acceptable to damage property public or private. If they have an issue with a memorial or statute, chain yourself to it, but do not destroy it. Protest is a right, a privilege of being an American. Don’t bastardize a legitimate tool for change for illegitimate recourse. Change is legitimate. Stealing a television or burning a police station is not.
Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com