We're more than a week out now from the atrocities in Paris, Beirut and Baghdad and less than that from the horror in Mali. Since those events, I've heard a good deal of rhetoric about hatred, anger and fear. I've heard a lot about retribution and vengeance as well.
So just a couple days ago I came across the lyrics from a song in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific. The song is "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught."
The lyrics include these words:
"You've got to be taught to hate and fear,
You've got to be taught from year to year.
It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear."
It might be well for each one of us to look at what we're teaching any of the young ones in our lives. And what are we passing along to other adults as well? What's our predominant attitude and view of life? Are we sharing love and peace? Or fear, anger and negativity?
I think it matters a great deal. I want to be more aware of what type of energy I'm putting out into the world and what I'm passing along to children in my life. So if you're a part of my life, feel free to call me on it if I'm teaching fear. I surely don't want to do so.
No comments:
Post a Comment