Comments on: Harmony http://donklephant.com/2006/09/15/harmony/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:41:00 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: m.takhallus http://donklephant.com/2006/09/15/harmony/comment-page-1/#comment-74821 m.takhallus Sat, 16 Sep 2006 02:12:56 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=2621#comment-74821 Jimmy: I almost never agree with you, but you're right on parental obligations. My kids are the smartest, prettiest kids in the world and I suspect yours are, too. Cicero: I feel your pain, believe me. I have a fatal attraction to contrarianism and have a tendency to respond to my kid's simplistic school lessons with long, nuanced expositions replete with historical examples. Usually about the time I get to the Peace of Westphalia they move on to other pastimes. Jimmy:
I almost never agree with you, but you’re right on parental obligations. My kids are the smartest, prettiest kids in the world and I suspect yours are, too.

Cicero:
I feel your pain, believe me. I have a fatal attraction to contrarianism and have a tendency to respond to my kid’s simplistic school lessons with long, nuanced expositions replete with historical examples. Usually about the time I get to the Peace of Westphalia they move on to other pastimes.

]]> By: Walrus http://donklephant.com/2006/09/15/harmony/comment-page-1/#comment-74744 Walrus Fri, 15 Sep 2006 19:30:48 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=2621#comment-74744 Cicero, while I think you made some very valid points, you do have to remember that this is for pre-schoolers. Nuance and sophistication can come later. Cicero, while I think you made some very valid points, you do have to remember that this is for pre-schoolers. Nuance and sophistication can come later.

]]> By: Jimmy the Dhimmi http://donklephant.com/2006/09/15/harmony/comment-page-1/#comment-74721 Jimmy the Dhimmi Fri, 15 Sep 2006 18:06:02 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=2621#comment-74721 sorry papa. When I'm taking about telling your daughter she is perfect, of course it does not mean you can't discipline her. You have to say she is perfect (as in she was created perfectly), the way you have to say we "all sing with the same voice." sorry papa. When I’m taking about telling your daughter she is perfect, of course it does not mean you can’t discipline her. You have to say she is perfect (as in she was created perfectly), the way you have to say we “all sing with the same voice.”

]]> By: Kevin http://donklephant.com/2006/09/15/harmony/comment-page-1/#comment-74717 Kevin Fri, 15 Sep 2006 17:33:09 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=2621#comment-74717 Have to agree with gal here. Jimmy, most of the brats I've ever met didn't get that way because their parents taught them to feel secure and loved. They got that way because their parents were unwilling/unable to discipline them. BTW Jimmy, your post here is not up to your usual standards of snark. I love you man but I'm also very disappointed. Please try harder next time or I'll be forced to give you a time out. Have to agree with gal here. Jimmy, most of the brats I’ve ever met didn’t get that way because their parents taught them to feel secure and loved. They got that way because their parents were unwilling/unable to discipline them.

BTW Jimmy, your post here is not up to your usual standards of snark. I love you man but I’m also very disappointed. Please try harder next time or I’ll be forced to give you a time out.

]]> By: gal http://donklephant.com/2006/09/15/harmony/comment-page-1/#comment-74682 gal Fri, 15 Sep 2006 15:12:48 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=2621#comment-74682 Jimmy, good point about making your kids feel secure and loved. Teaching that, and the idea that all humans are inherently worthy of love, are certainly not mutually exclusive. However, I don't think that teaching either of those things necessarily means you give a child the message that they're perfect and can do no wrong. I see lots of brats (of all ages) that have gotten that message from being allowed to do whatever they please and that rules have no meaning for them. Jimmy, good point about making your kids feel secure and loved. Teaching that, and the idea that all humans are inherently worthy of love, are certainly not mutually exclusive.

However, I don’t think that teaching either of those things necessarily means you give a child the message that they’re perfect and can do no wrong. I see lots of brats (of all ages) that have gotten that message from being allowed to do whatever they please and that rules have no meaning for them.

]]> By: Jimmy the Dhimmi http://donklephant.com/2006/09/15/harmony/comment-page-1/#comment-74677 Jimmy the Dhimmi Fri, 15 Sep 2006 14:54:43 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=2621#comment-74677 You got to make your kids feel secure and loved and that the world is a good place to live in. From that foundation they will grow up with a positive attitude towards others even when they are confronted wiith intolerance and hatered from backwards cultures. Its like telling your little daughter that she is the <em>most</em> beautiful girl in the world and that she is perfect; when of course if she still believes that as a teenager, she is most likely a bee-atch. You got to make your kids feel secure and loved and that the world is a good place to live in. From that foundation they will grow up with a positive attitude towards others even when they are confronted wiith intolerance and hatered from backwards cultures.

Its like telling your little daughter that she is the most beautiful girl in the world and that she is perfect; when of course if she still believes that as a teenager, she is most likely a bee-atch.

]]> By: gal http://donklephant.com/2006/09/15/harmony/comment-page-1/#comment-74665 gal Fri, 15 Sep 2006 14:40:15 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=2621#comment-74665 I agree, Kevin. Kids now learn about cynicism and intolerance soon enough. Perhaps I'm a naive idealist, but deep down we really ARE all the same -- human. Teaching kids that from an early age is not such a bad thing. It was only a few generations ago that white children were "protected" from those of other races in schools and even drinking fountains. I agree, Kevin. Kids now learn about cynicism and intolerance soon enough. Perhaps I’m a naive idealist, but deep down we really ARE all the same — human. Teaching kids that from an early age is not such a bad thing. It was only a few generations ago that white children were “protected” from those of other races in schools and even drinking fountains.

]]> By: Kevin http://donklephant.com/2006/09/15/harmony/comment-page-1/#comment-74641 Kevin Fri, 15 Sep 2006 13:40:41 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=2621#comment-74641 You're over thinking this one by quite a bit. A child's universe is pretty small after all; Home, pre-school, the other places they might see on a regular basis. Seems only practical to focus on lessons that can be applied to that universe. Like, even though people look or talk differently, we're all alike. There will be enough voices teaching children to hate and fear differences throughout their lives. You’re over thinking this one by quite a bit. A child’s universe is pretty small after all; Home, pre-school, the other places they might see on a regular basis. Seems only practical to focus on lessons that can be applied to that universe. Like, even though people look or talk differently, we’re all alike. There will be enough voices teaching children to hate and fear differences throughout their lives.

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