While browsing the internet I came upon a video of an eight year old child belting out hard rock music. I think, what kind of family value is this? What have we come to to think it is cute to put your young child out there in a public swarmy way? Are we confused?
Our GOP candidates are all talking family values these days. No one actually specifies what these may be. Certainly not marriage fidelity and certainly not actually thinking about children who may be hungry or needy. Certainly not thinking about being ethical models for the young persons for whom we are responsible. Certainly not being open to having a gay child or addressing the thorny problems of birth control or abortion or poverty.
What are family values? I believe that every one of us who is not a hermit, knows that families are us. They are messy and never easy, always shifting and so complicated.
As a nation we need to keep talking to each other to refine our beliefs. We know that so many of us who have families are not married, many of us have all kinds of in-laws and out-laws. Children in our families come and go. And yet we are still a tribe.
What are our 'family values'? Do we get these from church? Do we get them from the media?
I believe that family values is being there for your family whatever happens: births, deaths, sickness, joy. It is talking to everyone in your family, being open to all, having fun, loving every member and listening to them. Family values is also about looking outward to the bigger family community of your town and embracing
difference. Family values is about being honest.
Getting back to that little girl put on the internet to belt out rock songs, I believe we have lost our way. She should be allowed a childhood, cuddled and read to, appreciated and fed and loved. Family values.
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