Value addressed: Love people
Often people look down on others because their job has a lower social status or they resent an individual who achieves great economic wealth. This is far from a legitimate way to view people.
We need everyone who works a legitimate job. We need the janitors, the truck drivers, the entrepreneurs, and the cashiers. We need the managers, the CEOs, and the school teachers. We need the engineers, the sales people, and the assembly workers. We all contribute to the economic vibrancy of the nation. We all contribute to the system that provides for our many needs and wants. There is no one to look down upon. Sure, maybe someone gets paid more than you or maybe less than you. They are still part of the system that provides for your needs. Maybe their jobs take less skill than yours. They are still contributing a necessary function in the overall fabric of production and consumption. Maybe she stays at home, raising her children. Again, a great contribution to the well-being of our nation.
We must always respect one another, no matter their status, their job, their race, religion, political view, and so on. We don't have to agree with everyone's ideas, but we must always remember they are human beings like us, with hopes and dreams, successes and failures, strengths and weaknesses. They were created in the image of God and came here as babies like everyone else. We all grow up in cultural environments that help shape our thoughts and behaviors. Our environments may instill good values leading to good behaviors or those environments can develop destructive values that lead to delinquent behaviors. Our environments are different, but we are all of equal worth as people and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, even when we're wrong or make mistakes.
What to teach children:
- Treat people with respect
- That means acknowledging them and listening when they speak
- It means doing things that are helpful to others
- It means avoiding intentionally irritating or annoying others
- It means accepting everyone when possible (of course it is always important to protect themselves)
- It means having patience with other people's weaknesses and mistakes
- Help kids see the good side of people who are different
- Help kids see the good even in those who have done wrong and hurt others
- Help children understand that often people hurt others out of ignorance or social conditioning more than hatefulness
- Explain that you are teaching these things so they are not like those who hurt others
- Teach them that it is behaviors that are bad, not people
- Involve children in helping others without pay
Avoid:
- Avoid talking badly about groups of people or individuals
- Avoid identifying people by their faults or mistakes (as in "they stole; they are thieves and bad people")
Friday, March 20, 2015
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Fifty Shades of Crap
Values addressed: Love people, Keep passions in their proper place.
Fifty shades of crap smeared on the movie screen. Swarms of people run to see. What are they hoping for? Will they get their money’s worth? Will they get some twisted thrill? The gatekeepers turn a blind eye to any harm society may receive—their pockets are lined, from producer to theater.
So what about the cognitive triangle? Do we not know that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are linked? Put crap in our thoughts, it creates crap in our feelings and behaviors. It’s pretty simple to see and yet there they are: swarms of people waiting, as the gatekeepers—or shall we say the Pied Pipers—gleefully lead them on.
Where is prevention today? It was once said that an ounce of prevention was worth a pound of cure. But our Pied Pipers say, “Who gives a d$$$. It’s not our job to prevent abuse. It’s not our job to elevate moral standards. If people buy, we’ll produce!”
But think: this is just the beginning! Where will they lead us next? What twisted, despicable worlds will they drag us into? Or will they think, “Okay, I guess I’ve made enough money. Now I can actually produce something uplifting or useful”? Doubtful I’m sure. We the people support their cause, handing them money to teach our young men how to treat our daughters.
Is innocence so undesirable that we’d rather jump in and swim in the crap? It’s just a movie you say? Don’t forget the cognitive triangle! Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence each other. We don’t watch crap and remain unaffected. Either we turn more against it or we become more conditioned to accept it.
So if you have, or plan to have, children one day or if you have nieces or nephews that you care about, be sure about whom you pay to teach them how to live in this world. The media are powerful influencers of our cultural values. What harm they cause today can linger for decades. It’s just a movie now, but piled together masses of entertainment shape our culture for good or for bad.
What to teach children:
Sex is a private and gentle expression of love between a husband and wife.
It brings children into the world and helps unite their parents.
Many people have turned it into a plaything, which causes many problems in our world.
In some ways, it's like a drug that can get people hooked.
Sex is not the same as love.
Love is the greater goal. Sex is only a special part of married love.
Movies and other entertainment involving sex degrade it and make it less special.
Such media also lead more people to treat it just as a plaything.
We must be careful what entertainment we consume.
What we watch, listen to, and read can affect us in ways we may not understand until it's too late.
People who produce bad entertainment are not bad people; they usually don't fully realize what harm they are causing.
What people wear (especially girls) and what they talk about can entice another person to want sex, stirring desires in wrong times and places.
Help them understand that as their parent you want to help them make the best choices about media, dress, associations, etc.
Teach them to come to you with questions about these things.
Before they know what sex is, teach:
No one has a right to touch their bodies without permission.
Their private areas are meant to stay private to keep them safe.
Exceptions to privacy are at the doctor's office or with a parent for cleaning/bath time (until old enough to care for themselves).
Avoid:
Avoid making sex sound like it's evil, dirty, bad, etc. It just has a proper place and time.
Avoid labeling people--label only behaviors as wrong.
Avoid overreacting to their questions, ideas, etc. They are young and learning.The world will put things in front of them and it is your job to help them see why the world's idea may not be so good.
Fifty shades of crap smeared on the movie screen. Swarms of people run to see. What are they hoping for? Will they get their money’s worth? Will they get some twisted thrill? The gatekeepers turn a blind eye to any harm society may receive—their pockets are lined, from producer to theater.
So what about the cognitive triangle? Do we not know that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are linked? Put crap in our thoughts, it creates crap in our feelings and behaviors. It’s pretty simple to see and yet there they are: swarms of people waiting, as the gatekeepers—or shall we say the Pied Pipers—gleefully lead them on.
Where is prevention today? It was once said that an ounce of prevention was worth a pound of cure. But our Pied Pipers say, “Who gives a d$$$. It’s not our job to prevent abuse. It’s not our job to elevate moral standards. If people buy, we’ll produce!”
But think: this is just the beginning! Where will they lead us next? What twisted, despicable worlds will they drag us into? Or will they think, “Okay, I guess I’ve made enough money. Now I can actually produce something uplifting or useful”? Doubtful I’m sure. We the people support their cause, handing them money to teach our young men how to treat our daughters.
Is innocence so undesirable that we’d rather jump in and swim in the crap? It’s just a movie you say? Don’t forget the cognitive triangle! Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence each other. We don’t watch crap and remain unaffected. Either we turn more against it or we become more conditioned to accept it.
So if you have, or plan to have, children one day or if you have nieces or nephews that you care about, be sure about whom you pay to teach them how to live in this world. The media are powerful influencers of our cultural values. What harm they cause today can linger for decades. It’s just a movie now, but piled together masses of entertainment shape our culture for good or for bad.
What to teach children:
Sex is a private and gentle expression of love between a husband and wife.
It brings children into the world and helps unite their parents.
Many people have turned it into a plaything, which causes many problems in our world.
In some ways, it's like a drug that can get people hooked.
Sex is not the same as love.
Love is the greater goal. Sex is only a special part of married love.
Movies and other entertainment involving sex degrade it and make it less special.
Such media also lead more people to treat it just as a plaything.
We must be careful what entertainment we consume.
What we watch, listen to, and read can affect us in ways we may not understand until it's too late.
People who produce bad entertainment are not bad people; they usually don't fully realize what harm they are causing.
What people wear (especially girls) and what they talk about can entice another person to want sex, stirring desires in wrong times and places.
Help them understand that as their parent you want to help them make the best choices about media, dress, associations, etc.
Teach them to come to you with questions about these things.
Before they know what sex is, teach:
No one has a right to touch their bodies without permission.
Their private areas are meant to stay private to keep them safe.
Exceptions to privacy are at the doctor's office or with a parent for cleaning/bath time (until old enough to care for themselves).
Avoid:
Avoid making sex sound like it's evil, dirty, bad, etc. It just has a proper place and time.
Avoid labeling people--label only behaviors as wrong.
Avoid overreacting to their questions, ideas, etc. They are young and learning.The world will put things in front of them and it is your job to help them see why the world's idea may not be so good.
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