There are a lot of things that we are told when we are kids. It's by parents as well as by a lot of other people around us. Almost everyone tells us something. And rightfully so. We were just kids. We had to learn everything. We were knew to this world. I mean, we are super curious and everyone around is super excited to teach us stuff.
But have you ever wondered, did the teach us the right thing or did they teach us what they wanted us to believe?
Let's list a few things that a lot of kids in India are told:
1. Mahatma Gandhi was a good man. You should never say anything against him. He's almost God.
2. Politics is only for bad people. Don't even think about joining it.
3. If you are a naughty boy/girl, police will come and take you away.
4. Lawyers are liars. Haha. :| They loot you. They are not trustworthy.
5. Everyone elder to you is always right about all topics.
6. Marks in school are everything.
7. Materialism is bad.
8. Respect your teachers. But no, you can't become a teacher.
9. All government officials are lazy. All except our relatives who work there.
10. Don't experiment. Just follow the instructions.
These are just a few of those. I am sure as you read all these, a few more would have come to you mind.
Also, you might have noticed how some of the advice is contradictory. Well, yeah. Read point 5 again and keep quite. :P
Lets take them one by one.
I know Gandhiji was a great man. He struggled hard to get India Independence. But hey, not everything about him is good. He was controversial. Although, a lot of people don't want to talk about it because apparently, you are not Indian if you don't have blind platonic love for him.
Politics is bad. It's like a sewer line. A quick sand kind of a thing. I am sure everyone had heard that. I am also sure that most of us looked down upon all our elected representatives. But let me ask you one thing, if good people don't join politics, how will it improve?
Police has always been shown as the bad guys. I mean, they are public servants. They are meant to protect us. They put their lives on the line. They don't take holidays. They see to it that you are safe. Don't they deserve a more positive introduction? Its almost like Ramgadh, all mothers tell their kids, so ja beta warna police aa jaegi. :|
Lawyers, like doctors are into a noble profession. But unlike doctors, lawyers don't get enough respect. They are compared to crows and jackals and sharks. They are called liars. For someone who can help you claim your right and get you out of a tough spot when you need help, I think the treatment given to the profession is pathetic.
Ah. The 'elders are always right' card. This had been used on all of us once in a while. Guess what, inexperience is awesome. It helps think of newer and better ideas. It helps innovation. It finds new solutions to old problems. It is not affected by the losses of the past because its a fresh start.
I am curious, smart and have amazing thirst for knowledge but it won't matter as long as I have a good degree and a safe job. Nothing matters if you don't have marks.
Materialism is actually a very incentive or motivation for a person. It is something that will never go and hence will always act as a motivating factor in a person's life.
Teachers are supposed to be respected as much as parents. All elders will ask you to respect teachers and listen to them. But as soon as you tell them you want to become a teacher, their stand on teachers will change immediately. *sigh*
The common hatred that we have against government employees is because of the way they have been portrayed to us by our parents and our elders. They are called lazy, boorish and totally unhelpful. Although, if you have relatives working in the government then they will be cited as exceptions.
Kids are treated as robots. Their entire life is planned even before they can learn to say Hakkuna Matata. They are treated as robots as well. They are given instructions for everything and are asked to strictly follow them. Any diversion and the punishment will be severe beating or revocation of tv privileges or something that is important to kids.
The entire point of the post is that, we are teaching kids how to do things instead of teaching them how to learn how to do things. As they say, don't give a man a fish, teach him how to fish.
Parents should teach their children how to think for themselves. Sure, the kids will make mistakes from time to time but that's a part of the learning process.
Don't force your ideas upon them. Leave them free. Teach them how to think independently and you won't have to teach them anything else.
Most of the prejudices in this world are because of stereotypes that are put into our heads when we are kids. If we stop that then we can get rid of a lot of problems from this world.
Keep smiling :)
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