Children of the Community

Children are an important part of the community - they become us. I mean that in the sense that, many years from now, they will be the driving force, the adults in power, & take our place in the community. I also mean that they will become like us - they will take their guidance from what they see us do. If we are mean-spirited, then they will be. If we are generous, then they will learn from that.

The children of different cultures grow up to be different adults as a result of this. Those who were brought up to respect their elders expect that respect out of their children. Those who were brought up secluded from the world will keep their naivety & transfer it to their children. In some cases, this is the promulgation of social norms, in others it is a deviation in one family that singles them out & their future generations. This is a form of social genetics - small mutations in each generation make the whole of society evolve.

We, as intelligent humans, do get the opportunity to change the social genetics if we act consciously, as opposed pre-destined genes. If we have the vision to see what is happening around us, we can determine what we prefer our society to be, &, hopefully, take some responsibility for changing it.

Our choice is the first step - taking responsibility.

I look on children as inspirational. If I see a few toddlers running around in circles giggling, it makes me laugh. I have no idea what they find funny, but they have such joy in their lives. If a stranger sees me smiling in public at such children, there is the risk that I get seen as a pedophile. The worst part is that the person who thinks that will probably not do anything about it - they will just move on with the thought in their mind. They will take no responsibility for that thought they had. It's a worst-possible-scenario case that they allow to fester in their own mind. After all, it's not their children.

If the average person sees two young teenagers in a fight, they will avoid it - turn away, walk quickly past, keep clear - because they don't want to get involved. Not their children. It's the modern way.
My wife, on the other hand, comes from one of those backward countries where children are a part of the community. You can be guaranteed that someone will recognise one of the children, the two will be broken apart, & each will be cuffed around the ear. Not only that, but the parents of both children will be informed - & both boys know it! - so they can look forward to another cuffing when they each get home.
The children of that community know how they should behave, & are reminded of it. They are appropriately admonished by society as well as their family. That is a very healthy community.

If I go back to the Australian scenario, there is always a little old lady up the street who notices the boys' fighting. She's the only one who might go to the parents with the tale. If she tried to break up the fight - the only one who would try - then she'd be knocked over by one of the boys. When she gets to the boy's home, the mother is shocked that her son would be fighting "Not my little Johnny - he's never been in a fight!" When Johnny comes home, he is asked about the incident. He feigns innocence. His mother is justified in her opinion. The boy escapes justice - & then plots his revenge on the nosy old lady up the street.
Who has been punished? Who has learned a lesson here?

We, as intelligent humans, get the opportunity to change our society.
It just takes a first step - taking responsibility.