Okay well, he's only six years old. What more can you expect? He loves monster trucks; watches the shows on television, has lots of the little toy trucks and sees a few shows each year with his father. In fact, they had seen one on Saturday night. It's a special bond those two have together and it's great. And having the freedom to attend these monster truck shows is indeed a wonderful part of being an American. It may be a small, no-big-deal thing to you but to my six year old son it's everything.
During our conversation my husband mentioned how great our son does when it's time for the National Anthem. He knows how to put his hand on his heart and stare silently at the flag until the song is finished. My husband said while the song was being played at the monster truck show there was a child behind them whining and complaining saying she hated the song. I know my husband didn't like hearing that and he and I both certainly never want our own children feeling that way ... and if they do ... we will correct them on that. I'm sure you will say that we have the freedom as Americans to decide whether or not we want to stand with our hand on our heart while the National Anthem is playing or whether or not we want to recite The Pledge of Allegiance, and you are correct on that, but I feel our forefather's who worked hard at giving us this freedom and the men who fought to protect it deserve our utmost respect and gratitude.
I also understand that the child who stated her hatred for the song is too young and not educated on what our flag represents and certainly knows nothing about the War of 1812 and The Battle of Fort McHenry. What child would? Which is why it's our job as parents to explain it to them. Then again, a lot of adults don't even understand it. Educate yourself!
"Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it" -- Edmund Burke
At this point we haven't taught our children the history of what gave our country it's freedom and greatness. We will. We both know we can't leave it up to the schools alone to teach them. American history is so important to both of us and we want our children to understand it and love it as well. But like I said earlier, they are only two and six. We have already discussed to my son on several occasions how awesome it is to be an American and how lucky he is to be part of a great country. I have also told him that other countries aren't so lucky. Hey, I'm not going to shelter my children. There is evil in this world and I want them to be aware of it so they aren't shocked once they are confronted by it somehow.
When my child hears another child refusing to participate in the National Anthem (and yes I suppose you as an American have the freedom to do so) I want him to think of the men who died and sacrificed their lives to make the country what it is today and I want him to be thankful for that. Just as I am thankful for that.
Great post Dawn, and I agree with you 100%. I wasn't born an American and I know too well what it is like to live in countries were we are not afforded the same freedoms that we find in the USA. My children are also very aware of what it's like, and just how blessed they are to be born in this beautiful country.
ReplyDeleteThen we have the fact that we are a military family, so doubly thankful to the flag and what it stands for. My children know to respect the national anthem, and they know to be quiet and place their hands over their hearts.
I guess we can't change what other people teach their own children, but at least we can control what our own children do :)