How do you raise a child of divorce when Dad is a Republican and Mom is an Independent turned Democrat? Truthfully, I have lived an ignorant life when it comes to politics (educated through the headlines and scandals). This year I feel more compelled than ever to 'get educated.' Can our country really be spending $10 billion/month on a war over...what is it over? I thought weapons of mass destruction and now, it's to spread democracy. And there's always the 9/11 reference - which from what I can tell - has next to nothing to do with it. Isn't Osama somewhere in Afghanistan? Why are we in Iraq? (Ahhh, I digress)
Okay - back to the original question...let me provide some context. My daughter came home from a weekend with her Dad and asked me if I *believe* in global warming. Um...believe? Like do I believe in the tooth fairy? Global warming is a fact. The real question is what do I believe is causing it. Before I could answer, I asked her, 'do you believe in it?' And she said, 'NO, it's just normal climate change.' That was it for me. That was the last day that I could, in good conscious, continue to be educated by the headlines. I need to wade through the bullsh*t (aka Fox news) and help my daughter to learn how to learn in a world where anyone can publish anything and make it look like 'the news' or factual reporting.
My daughter is 11 years old. She doesn't have to share the same political leanings as I do (or her Dad, for that matter). But she deserves the ability to come to informed conclusions based on factual information. How do we help our children (hell, how do we educate the American public) to discriminate between fact and spin in today's world?
I often wonder what will be written in history books about this time in U.S. history.
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4 comments:
I have a feeling what is written in the history books is subjective to who is writing it, and is only a loose interpretation of facts. I have the same view about the bible.
Sarah brings up a good point. I don’t believe what we were taught in school were all the actual facts. I think we got the glorified version.
As for your daughter, that is an amazingly difficult subject to manage. Sarah and I had to and still continue to deal with Bob who is as right as right can be. However for the most part we were able to educate ourselves and fight back even from a relatively young age because that was the only way to put up with Bobs BS. As passive as my Mom is she never really got involved but did always encourage us to give it right back to him. (Not that we have listen to Bob in the last 15 years considering his political facts come from Joe Camel and hunting magazines.)
My intuition tells me that you take the high road and teach Cat to keep an open mind, educate herself and follow her heart. However, for that to be affective her father would have to adhere to the same policy and from my experience right wingers tend to neither be open minded or take the high road. But the fact that you take the time to listen and talk to her and that you want her to be an open minded, active participant in society already sets you apart as a parent and gives her a head start in life. I believe in time she will find her own path just as Sarah and I did.
Rosie, I just went through your blog for the first time (as I am new to blogging) and I think it is great! I find the amount of honesty you write with to be beautifully refreshing!
You mean the tooth fairy isn't real?
Maybe you all could have movie night with An Inconvinient Truth? It's pretty amazing. Even if only 10 or 15 percent sinks in you both will be pleased.
Come to think about it, I need to watch it again so I can gain another 10 or 15%.
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