Campaigning candidates desperate for another way to get our vote seem intent on using the 'grandkids' as a motivator. "We don't want to pass on these problems to our grandkids do we? Gee, I guess not, so I'll vote for you! Another thing I don't have to worry about. Of course it's a ploy to somehow get us to be even more uncritical than we already are regarding our politics, but it has got me thinking about what I would like my 4 grandkids to know about life. Grandad would like to tell you a story!
But I find I need your help. My first shot at answering that question was not good enough to share with anyone. My list was too abstract, too preachy, and not the stuff that any of my grandkids would likely read. I'm not after 'cute', let Hallmark do that or someone with more imagination. It doesn't have to be in kid's format, although maybe someday. It just has to be truthful and helpful and not nasty or a rant to make me feel better.
I know I want my grandkids to be critical thinkers and ethical actors. I want them to think for themselves as a result of being wide-open to the great insights of people past and present as well as those who think about the future. I don't want my grandkids to be warped by the dominance of the economic myth. Warped views of money, sex and power destroy, dominate and are always, always, always present and incredibly tempting.
I would like them to have stories, mythologies, and even hero figures that can sustain and inform and continue to teach them about the need to distinguish reality from illusion. I want them to choose from the myriad of life giving possibilities, forms of culture like dance, drama, literature, music, and even sport that keep one mentally and physically strong.
I want them to have a deep appreciation for difference, to not fear it and to feel themselves growing as they become involved with people and engaged by ideas from a variety of cultures and perspectives. I want them to 'love people', but not in some naive way that overlooks the weaknesses we all have. Can everyone have the opportunity to travel? Perhaps not, but for many people it is a key ingredient in changing perspective. And so is reading. Think Harry Potter.
I want them to have an education that is informed by the most creative edge existing. I do not want them to buy into views of life that are clearly not only at odds with scientific insight, but are simply wrong, not in intent by those hold those views, but wrong in fact. I want them always to be the one who is responsible in some way in every situation, without guilt, and to know responsibility exercised as freedom in community.
I want them to cherish living, embrace all of creation, and sense a kinship with neighbors near and far. This may help them choose the deep values of relationships over the superficial value of things.
You see how hard this is! Help me out here!. What are the three (you can go as high as ten or twelve if you have them) 'things', 'insights', 'values' you want for your grandchildren. If you don't have grandchildren, just ask yourself what is so important to you as a human being that you really want others to look there for guidance. To shift the context a bit, "what did you know and when did you know it?" This is a work forever in progress. Please contribute.
1 comment:
Rick,
What I'll want my grandchildren to know is probably too personal for me to put on a blog. Mostly stories about family, hard struggles, ridiculous moments, lives built upon the lives of those before us.
Here are 3 insights important to me that I'd want them to know and that I can share:
"I thank you god for most this amazing day." e.e. cummings
"all is well, and all is well, and all manner of thing shall be well." julian of norwich
"the dude abides." the big lebowski
--jake
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