A conversation with the 7-yr-old boy I babysit as we're watching the end of a New York Rangers hockey game on T.V:
7 YR OLD: I'm actually kind of glad Obama won.
ME: You are?
7 YR OLD: I mean, I'm SAD that McCain lost because I was for him. But I'm actually kind of glad Obama won.
ME: Really. Why's that?
7 YR OLD: Because he's our PRESIDENT!
ME: Well...not yet if you want to be precise.
7 YR OLD: People should really be glad for their president.
ME: Well that's true. Did you guys have a mock election in your class at school or something?
7 YR OLD: (confused) mock?
ME: Oh. I mean a pretend election at school?
7 YR OLD: No.
ME: Oh.
7 YR OLD: Anyways, it's not like the president can tell us what to do or anything. He can't force us to do things.
ME: Hmmm, it's true that we're a free society, and we make our own choices.
7 YR OLD: Right! We make our own choices!
ME: The president can tell our military what to do, though.
7 YR OLD: We're not at war right now.
ME: We are actually. In Iraq.
7 YR OLD: Oh. But not anywhere around here, right?
ME: Right.
7 YR OLD: I hate wars! Wars are stupid. Fighting each other with knives and stuff.
ME: Well, the United States only goes to war if it's to fight for what's good...to help people. (???) it's always better to try to work it out, though. You're right.
7 YR OLD: Yeah! Work it out! Work it out with YOUR WORDS! Geesh.
ME: That's right. Work it out with your words...... Sometimes countries have a harder time working it out with words.
6 comments:
Oh if the world leaders only had that wisdom...
Reminds me of a Groucho Marx quote:
"A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five."
And we are at war in Afghanistan.
~~~
Let's just all sit down and use our Words.
Words to the thief:
That doesn't belong to you.
Words to the rapist:
That doesn't belong to you either.
Words to the murderer:
I want to live.
Words to the liar:
I want to know the truth.
Words to the oppressor:
I want to be free.
Words to the punk:
Do you feel lucky?
Sorry, Anon. I really have no idea what you're getting at.
Whatever it is, I'll let you explain it to the 7-year-old.
This is why I shouldn't have children. Because I would forget who I'm talking to and say something like "Well, actually, we don't use knives. We use bombs that turn people into dust. That's right. And if you're bad I'll turn YOU into dust. Now go to bed."
Aimful,
Right. Or. That could be a very effective parenting style.
...but, the kid has a point! ;)
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