Who are the children?
One well known political figure suggested that the thousand of young people – along with some older people - who were marching and calling out our so called leaders who have allow the NRA and other donors to dictate their consciences – would do more to protect their classmates if they learned CPR. He, along with many others, have seriously questioned the maturity and, thus, the integrity of the students who organized and participated in the March for Our Life movement and who continue to be committed to being the solution rather than the problem. Now a group of young people is marching 50 miles to Paul Ryan’s house to call him out for blocking meaningful gun reform again and again. These students are committed to getting many to register to vote, voting and assuming the leadership roles that those who were entrusted with the job of leading have not done.
How do we decide when/if someone is an adult. We might consider:
Normally we decide adulthood by normalizing an “age of consent. In most cultures age of consent give one the right to:
The age of consent varies depending on location/culture and type of activity. Adult status and age of consent may not match. Clearly many of the students participating in the March for our Life movement are bright, articulate, realistic, committed and ready to assume responsibility for what happens to them and others. They have a developing set of core beliefs, are seemingly open to learning and owe allegiance to no company or corporation. Many seem acutely aware that they have privilege by an accident of birth and must use that privilege wisely and compassionately.
Lest it seem as if I am nominating them for sainthood even before the reach the age of consent in many cases, they seem clear that they are young and will continue to learn. I have not heard any of them say that they are ready to drop out of school and run for political positions although they may already have more qualifications than some of those pretending to be leaders.
Perhaps these young people are challenging us to look at whether we “pretend adults” need to be mentored by these young people who are already more adult. Did we, at some point, deserve the title of adult and inadvertently, step by step, give it away to special interest groups, money or other addictions such as power, prestige, alcohol and other drugs.
Will all true adults please stand and be counted?
Written March 26, 2018
One well known political figure suggested that the thousand of young people – along with some older people - who were marching and calling out our so called leaders who have allow the NRA and other donors to dictate their consciences – would do more to protect their classmates if they learned CPR. He, along with many others, have seriously questioned the maturity and, thus, the integrity of the students who organized and participated in the March for Our Life movement and who continue to be committed to being the solution rather than the problem. Now a group of young people is marching 50 miles to Paul Ryan’s house to call him out for blocking meaningful gun reform again and again. These students are committed to getting many to register to vote, voting and assuming the leadership roles that those who were entrusted with the job of leading have not done.
How do we decide when/if someone is an adult. We might consider:
- When the brain is physically mature at around age 25.
- When one is able to biologically become a parent – somewhere between ages 11 and 14.
- When one has learned how to function socially in a particular segment of the culture.
- When one is able to be financially independent and assume responsibility – this excludes many college graduates with significant college loans and who must, therefore, live with their parent(s).
- When one has become spiritually mature enough to recognize their interdependence and be intentional in their behavior.
- When one has developed the art of common sense.
- When one can pass a logic test, i. e. If A is true and B is true then C must be true.
Normally we decide adulthood by normalizing an “age of consent. In most cultures age of consent give one the right to:
- Vote,
- Engage in consensual sexual relationships.
- Purchase a gun.
- Live independently
- Join the military or be drafted.
- Be employed full time at a non- family business.
- Rent a car.
- Enter into a contract to purchase or rent a house/apartment.
The age of consent varies depending on location/culture and type of activity. Adult status and age of consent may not match. Clearly many of the students participating in the March for our Life movement are bright, articulate, realistic, committed and ready to assume responsibility for what happens to them and others. They have a developing set of core beliefs, are seemingly open to learning and owe allegiance to no company or corporation. Many seem acutely aware that they have privilege by an accident of birth and must use that privilege wisely and compassionately.
Lest it seem as if I am nominating them for sainthood even before the reach the age of consent in many cases, they seem clear that they are young and will continue to learn. I have not heard any of them say that they are ready to drop out of school and run for political positions although they may already have more qualifications than some of those pretending to be leaders.
Perhaps these young people are challenging us to look at whether we “pretend adults” need to be mentored by these young people who are already more adult. Did we, at some point, deserve the title of adult and inadvertently, step by step, give it away to special interest groups, money or other addictions such as power, prestige, alcohol and other drugs.
Will all true adults please stand and be counted?
Written March 26, 2018
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