American Thinker-
I am skeptical that our efforts as conservative parents to produce conservative offspring will materialize. Even with the best of intentions, the odds are not in our favor to successfully counter the Democrat-Media Complex, the educational system, and pop culture. That doesn’t mean there aren’t success stories (some in my own family), but I hear more about the failure and the disaffection it engenders in conservative families.
Conservative parents have learned the hard way that how your kids turn out depends on a host of factors that, at some point during the maturation process, are way beyond our control — friends, personal experiences, a particular book or documentary, brain chemistry, friends, a teacher/professor/boss, personality, a romantic relationship, college activities, pop culture, hobbies, and…friends. Usually, it’s not one but an amalgamation of several factors and presto chango! The kid who was once the lone conservative arguing at the lunch table, now thinks David Hogg and AOC are bitchin’.
We see them everywhere — the emaciated college-age vegans working at Starbucks, hysterical young girls pounding on Supreme Court doors, attractive anti-Semites leading the charge in Congress. I’m sure some of them had conservative upbringings — you cannot assume they were all raised by liberals. Yet, in her reporting about out-of-control liberal college students some time ago, I heard Laura Ingraham link their behavior to their upbringing. Only a parent whose children hadn’t yet attended high school could make such an absurd connection. We can try but we cannot guarantee what our children will believe.
Once again, I find myself referencing Red Scare movies like Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It resonates. We have to be vigilant, stay informed, understand the arguments of the other side and how to combat them. If we don’t, eventually the pods take us over. I graduated high school a Reagan Republican whose political arguments were admittedly my Dad’s. When I arrived at a competitive college filled with smart, often private-school educated Merit scholars, I lost every political debate. I just didn’t have the breadth of information and understanding of history to counter their arguments. Thus, I graduated college…a Democrat. In time, I fell back on those critical thinking skills my parents instilled in me. A desire to understand more as I graduated from law school and entered the work force, led me to self-educate and, eventually, return to my conservative roots.
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“In time, I fell back on those critical thinking skills my parents instilled in me.” So Laura Ingrahm was right.
(Any school)
…”Ahh! A child who likes Trump! CORRECT HIM!”
https://youtu.be/GEStsLJZhzo
Teach a child HOW to think, not WHAT to think. Home schooling with the emphasis on math is the answer.
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go;
Even when he is old he will not depart from it”
The world nowadays is a whole lot scarier place, more hazardous, than when I was growing up. Parenting has always been hard, today it is harder than ever. But there still exists some universal immutable truths that can at least provide a foundation;
1) To Whom Much is Given, Much Will Be Required (Luke 12:48). A clear understanding and application of this are essential. Not just as a Christain and how we comport ourselves, but in how we interact with others, how we apply empathy and compassion, and we are good stewards of the world God provided for us.
2) An appreciation for failure. Thomas Edison said,” I haven’t failed, I just found 10,000 ways that didn’t work”. Failure can provide impetus, motivation, and determination, the wise person can channel this for good. If you haven’t failed, you haven’t tried, at anything.
3) You are not special, but you can become special through effort and hard work.
4) Selfishness is the best thing you can do for yourself.
Teach your children the who, what why, when, and how of the Declaration of Independance and the Constitution.
My kids turned out conservative, their spouses are conservative, and I am certain my Grandkids will be the same.
I reinforce that my Military oath was to the Constitution, not the government.
The Constitution is the key.
Teach your children the who, what, why, when, and how of the Declaration of Independance and the Constitution.
My kids turned out conservative, their spouses are conservative, and I am certain my Grandkids will be the same.
I reinforce that my Military oath was to the Constitution, not the government.
The Constitution is the key.
Whoa, posting and editing is a bit odd on an Android phone – apolgies for the double post.
My kids are trained in goof spotting and question how the goofs became goofs. 99-100% of the time it leads back to liberal thinking. That, and basic economics goes a long way. It all boils down to common sense and not ever under any circumstance allow a goof to alter common sense. I help them with the backstory because they aren’t expected to know a lot of things without experience and don’t force their hand. They always come around with their own mindset and see things properly, so far.
Sometimes I am thankful that I didn’t have children. Not often, but this subject is one of them.
My sister and cousin both have children who are “leaving the fold” of what they were taught. They are young enough that they should straighten out with enough time. At least I pray so.
How funny, that’s what I get for rush commenting. Number 4 in my comment above should be ,”SELFLESSNESS is the best thing you can do for yourself”.
A request from pedo island, please don’t use snatch and kids in same sentence.
The Orwellian atmosphere created in a govt institution by unionist teachers is a powerful indoctrination environment.
The ‘uncommitted center’ is needed to win elections, and they mostly don’t pay enough attention to see through the leftist lies.
That’s why it’s crucial that we develop memes that fit easily on bumper stickers or that can be easily shouted during debate. And key points like voter ID and borders that make a lot of common sense.
In the ‘information age’ it’s hard to get anyone’s attention more than briefly, an indoctrinated populace has all had unpleasant experiences where someone deviated from the leftist line and was viciously ostracized.
My most reliable last-resort tactic has been ‘when you are registered to vote, you are volunteering for jury duty’. Leftists want benefits, they don’t want to be the chumps volunteering for duties – this tactic shuts them up amazingly well, and they seem less likely to vote.
Rich Taylor AUGUST 4, 2019 AT 3:41 PM
How funny, that’s what I get for rush commenting. Number 4 in my comment above should be ,”SELFLESSNESS is the best thing you can do for yourself”.
On the contrary, there is no interest like self interest. If you are successful in your endeavors you have the capability to be of service or helpful to others. Self first or you will not be capable of service to others.
Late to the party as usual…