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I am not a curmudgeon nor cynical; far from it. I
just want to share with you, in tongue-in-cheek style, situations I feel that are less
than satisfactory in our present day life, both locally and globally. The following
editorials, and the opinions contained therein, are mine alone and I hope you take them
in the light they are given...light!
Using Children as
Pawns for any
Agenda is Just Plain Wrong
The Wit and Tenets of Brad P. Scobey
I will not get into the middle
of the Terry Schindler Shiavo case; for 15 years it has been a personal matter within the
Schindler and Shiavo families, and probably should have always remained that
way.
Of course, there are many
people who want to put their two-cents worth into situations where they may not belong,
and that is one of the wonderful institutions of our country: that people have the right
to do so. What has appalled me, not just in Mrs. Shiavo's situation but others as
well, are the parents who use their minor children as political and/or religious pawns.
I saw on Yahoo News yesterday
pictures of a 10 year old boy being taken away in handcuffs by police for bringing a cup
of water towards Ms. Shiavo's hospice (not being the first child to try to do so).
The boy was quoted as saying to the police, "I am not afraid because God is
with me". Of course that picture evoked many emotions, all depending on how one
views it. Was it the "Police State" victimizing a child? Was it the
sincerity of a child trying to help another human being? Or could it be a parent
using their child to elicit sympathy or anger strictly to advance the parents agenda?
Parents and/or Guardians have
the duty to protect their children and to teach them right from wrong. I can see two
possible case scenarios for how this specific situation arose.
1) If the child asked the
parent if they could take Mrs. Shiavo a cup of water, the parent has the duty to tell
their child that by doing so, they would be breaking the law and could be arrested.
Therefore, although admirable, it is not the right thing to do. If the child
then continues to go forward with the action, the parent has the duty to stop the child.
Would the parent stand and watch their child break the law in some other situation
such as stealing a candy bar at the store? They both amount to the same thing.
2) The parent suggested
taking the cup of water to Mrs. Schiavo knowing their minor child would be arrested for
breaking the law!
In either case, shame on the
parent for allowing their child to be placed in that situation. While we have the
right, and PRIVILEGE, in this country to our own contrasting points of view, let the
children be children!
Brad
Want to respond to my rant. Email me!
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