Aren't DUmmies the ones always going on and on and on about how wise their liberal children are? How they correct teachers, schoolmates, their friends' parents, people in line at the grocery store, etc. I don't know about other parents here but mine were taught empathy at a very early age. Every Sunday when they put a portion of their money in the collection plate and we discussed what that money would be used for: missions that helped the world's poorest people, restocking the food pantry, Christmas baskets, or other things our church was doing.
To teach a child that there are others their own age a half a world away who need wells dug to have clean water that comes so easily from the faucet for them, that a bowl of rice may be all they eat and they're thankful for it and that there are people willing to leave the comforts here in America to teach them to read and teach their parents skills that will enable them to provide for their children, to bring medicine to families who have never seen a doctor, I'd say does a good job of teaching them about life's complexity.
I don't know if this person has been around a lot of 14 year olds, because while they can be incredibly challenging, they're also interesting young people. They're starting to consider philosophical questions about why they're here and who they are, what they value. Heck some are even considering what sex they want to be and what sex they want to screw for the rest of their lives. I believe that kind of deep thought requires at least some nuance. For a people who try to wear nuance like a merit badge, they sure do try to paint everyone with a broad brush.
Cindie
Had quite a conversation along this line with my 14 year old grandaughter this weekend. We were comparing tchnologies from when I was her age. Although I got into computers at an early age, it wasn't until I was damn near 30 before I owned one. I was an Apple II. Real POS compared to all the IBM clones I have had since.
I gave her, her first one when she was just 8. Now she has her own cell, an Ipod, and the best hot rod 'puter I could put together. She consistently gets mostly A's and B's every year. I am a little worried about the C+ she has in Math, since it was my best subject and I figured she would be my protege.
She can't believe how we managed without all the high tech toys kids have now. I think it goes a long way describing teens idea that "old people" are not as smart as they are. lol! After all how could we be without the "tools" available to them compared to just pen and paper.
