Grandfather

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=90 BGCOLOR="#0099FF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Monotype Corsiva" ><B>The Evangelical Herald              </B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Evangelical Herald "><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="pearls.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pearls">Up Level</A></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#33CCFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Grandfather</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> The Evangelical Herald</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>A Grandfather's Suggestion to a Troubled World</B></div> <bR> <div> Like so many other men of my generation, I recently became a full-time grandfather (i.e. my daughter and granddaughter have moved in with us).  My granddaughter has brought much joy to me as again I experience the miracle of growth and bonding.  Along with the responsibilities I have inherited, I have been re-introduced to the world of toy stores, toddler specialty shops, and the fast food restaurants.  One day, as I sat watching my granddaughter in the fast food playground, I suddenly realized that many of society's ills can be directly attributed to a lifestyle that is being shoved down our children's throats.</div> <bR> <div> As I entered into my granddaughter's public world, I was haunted by the noise of today's rock hysteria.  In the toddler's clothing store, I was tormented by children running wild around the clothing racks to the beat of a rappers' unintelligent mumbles.  In the toy store, I saw children jumping on toys to the beat of heavy metal colliding with rage.  In the fast food place, a child was trying to digest her food as she squirmed and jumped to the sounds of drums, guitars and vocal gibberish.  Then there are the children's television commercials showing pre-school and even toddler kids dancing to this same beat and making moves that could only be described as dirty dancing.</div> <bR> <div> Thanks a lot you peddlers of our children's world for contributing to the hyper-activity of our children and to introducing them to the "I want to be cool - I want to have excitement all the time" mentality.  You use the adult entertainment's lifestyle to sell your children's products and at the same time mold our children to fit the wares you will peddle for the rest of their lives.  You call this "successful marketing", but at what cost.  Thousands of children are now prescribed the drug Ritalin to slow down their hyper-activity.  Parents struggle with their hyperactive kids so they can have a little rest.  These same children can not focus on their schoolwork.  Many grow up to be teenagers that are ever seeking more excitement and finding it in alcohol and drugs.  Some struggle with attention deficiency on their jobs and many end up homeless or a burden to society.  Thousands of these kids will transform "excitement" and hyper-activity into aggressive criminal behavior.  This lifestyle that you are shoving down our children's throats is perhaps a reason Mary McNamara of the <U>Los Angeles Times</U> writes "the nation is in the mist of a rage epidemic, --- a fast paced lifestyle to a permanent boiling point". ("Are We Raging Out of Control" -- <I><U>L. A. Times Southern California Living</U></I><U> </U>- Aug. 6, 2000)</div> <bR> <div> This may sound old fashion, but when I entered into my toddler granddaughter's world, I expected to hear <I><B>children's music</B></I> in these public venues -- like soothing lullabies, Mother Goose rhymes, simple melodies that had teaching substance, and calming harmonies.  Children's music that for ages had introduced them to a world of fantasy, justice, harmony, beauty and order.  Music that a child could understand and that parents could sing to them and teach them fundamental concepts of a civilized society.  Music that contributed to the peace of the home.  Music that could be sung without hiring a noise making band.  Music that children could use simple hand movements to develop their physical coordination and mental awareness. </div> <bR> <div> You have us captive, you vendors of children's wares, but must you be a contributor to our society's ills?  Must you be a contributor to the hyper-activity of thousands in our society?  Who said a child can not have fun in a calm and soothing world?  Must our children be subjected to the beat of an "exciting world" that teaches that there is no life in a tranquil and quiet world?  All that I am asking of you children store managers, fast food managers, and television commercial producers is for you to slow down the pace - lower the volume - give our children children's music and children's entertainment.  Help us grandparents and parents calm our children. Help us teach them values that build an orderly society.  Do not rob our children of their childhood and their innocence -- let our children be children.  Let them have a good start into a lifestyle that can change our world into a more peaceful, gentler place to pursue life and happiness. </div> <bR> <div> Yes, this may seem like a simplistic solution to the complex problems that plaque mankind's troubled world, but if a little step in the right direction can work wonders, how much more can a child's little step? </div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>