TOUGH CHOICE

IT'S TIME FOR PARENTS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THINKERS. JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU, AN IDEALIST, THOUGHT THAT HUMAN BEINGS WERE INNATELY COMPASSIONATE AND SENSIBLE. TO THE CONTRARY, THOMAS HOBBES, A REALIST, BELIEVED THAT PEOPLE WERE BORN WITH A PERPETUAL AND RESTLESS DESIRE FOR POWER. ON WHICH SIDE SHOULD PROPER PARENTING COME DOWN? SHOULD PARENTS TRUST THEIR NOBLE SAVAGES WITH COMPLETE FREEDOM OR DO THEY CURTAIL CHILDISH ATTEMPTS TO USURP CONTROL? EDMUND BURKE DEFINED TRADITION AS WISDOM WITHOUT REFLECTION. PERHAPS THIS FACT CAN HELP DECIDE THE CONTENTIOUS ISSUE OF DISCIPLINE VS. PERMISSIVENESS. TRADITIONALLY, PARENTS HELD SWAY OVER THEIR CHILDREN; THE ROLE OF TEACHER AND GUIDE HAVING BEEN SORELY TIME-TESTED. THE IDEAL (CHILD) CAN NEVER BE ACHIEVED IF REALISTIC ACTIONS ARE NOT EMBRACED. CHILDREN NEED TRADITIONAL PARENTING. SO WE ARRIVE AT WILLIAM THACKERY'S STATEMENT THAT "BRAVERY NEVER GOES OUT OF FASHION." HOW MUCH BRAVERY IS EXHIBITED TODAY BY PARENTS? COURAGE AND FORTITUDE ARE REQUIRED TO EDUCATE CHILDREN IN THE GOLDEN RULES. THE TRADITIONAL GOLDEN RULES ARE BASED ON THE 10 COMMANDMENTS. SOMEBODY IMPORTANT SET THEM DOWN IN STONE. PARENTS WHO KNOW WHAT'S IMPORTANT SHOULD INSTILL THEM INTO THEIR CHILDREN. THEN THE GOLDEN MEAN BETWEEN IDEALISM AND REALISM HAVING BEEN STRUCK, YOUTH WILL GROW INTO MATURE ADULTS.