Reply #14: I have read with great interest [View All]

[H2O Man]

a number of posts on a few other threads which fall into two general groups: {1} the "hot seat" folks who say that they spank their kids without hitting them, in the "greater love hath no parent" mold, and who are not happy to see posts on non-violence and children; and {2} the folks who are confident that issues about violence and children have absolutely nothing to do with the political and social realities of the day, and wish that those who wish to discuss the issue further would form a baby-sitting forum.

I had hoped the quote from A.S. Neill in the Summerhill thread would have helped people from both groups recognize that it is an important topic, connected to most if not all of the political & social issues that should be important to democrats today. Further, the discussion isn't intended to point fingers or to inflict a guilt trip on anyone. Rather, it should simply be seen as an opportunity to talk about issues that we have the ability to evaluate and make decisions on in our everyday lives.

Democracy is about children. It's about children having enough food; having access to medical care; having the opportunity to get a great education in the public school system -- which is threatened by the neocon/bush administration; have the right to be enriched by learning about science and about evolution, and not impoverished by Pat Robertson's nonsense; having the right to be safe; and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If democracy doesn't include children, what good is it?