Together with Children
About this blog
Together With Children is the blog of the Office of Child Advocacy.
Recent posts
- Media Violence is Violence, Too
- Fragile Children in Fragile Families
- Home: A Safe Place for Children?
- The Vanishing Culture of Civility
- When Violence Supercedes Dialogue
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When Violence Supercedes Dialogue
How Do We Talk to Children?
Monday’s blog post spoke of our role as peacemakers seeking to engage in respectful dialogue with those with whom we may strongly disagree. The events of this week have brought to the forefront what can sometimes happen when a person or group expresses an extreme or disrespectful view. Nothing excuses the acts of violence perpetrated by small groups of persons in Egypt and Libya. Yet as parents and others who care about children, we have to be concerned about what messages are being communicated to our children. Children from elementary age up are certainly discussing these events, not only in their classrooms with teachers but also in interchanges with their peers.
We can also be sure that stereotypes about Islam and about Muslims will abound on talk shows and the Internet, and commentary from all sides of the political spectrum will make itself heard on the nightly news. In the 24/7, 360 degree media immersion in which our children are growing up, it’s simply not possible to shield them completely. Nor can we afford to ignore what is going on. So how to respond? The best place to start is by simply listening. Ask your children what they are hearing, and what they think about it. Be clear with them that as Christians—and as good Americans— we respect other faith traditions, just as we would want them to respect our own. Be clear, too, that learning to respect those who view the world differently than we do requires that we work to respond to an offense with something more constructive than violence or even heated words. Pray together for those responsible for offending with their video, for those who responded with violence and , most of all, for those who lost their lives as a result. Pray that the Spirit will guide your family as you seek to be peacemakers.
- Posted at 10:31 a.m.
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