As I'm looking SO happily forward to the Bush administration's rapidly-approaching end, I want to share something upon which I've been reflecting. It's funny (but never surprising) when children's books give me clarity about how our country has failed. One book in particular has done this for me this year: The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear.
In case you've never read this book, let me give you a quick summary. There's a mouse. He finds an awesomely plump & juicy strawberry he wants to eat. Just as he's about to enjoy it, the ambiguously informed narrator tells this mouse that he better watch out because there's a big bear that loves strawberries, and he's going to come sniff it out, and (in more or less words) tear the mouse to shreds to get the strawberry...that is, unless he shares half of the strawberry with the narrator. Then he'll be safe.
This reminds me of a commercial I saw a few months ago for a tracking device you can put on your child. The commercial made you feel happy in the beginning - watching all these beautiful, healthy, non-missing children playing on the playground on a sunny day; moms smiling at their kids. Then, one kid disappears while his mom turns his back for one minute. She panics. He's lost! He's kidnapped! He's dead! All of these horrifying thoughts go through your head (especially if you're a parent). Then, intro product. Don't worry! There's a tracking device that can keep you from EVER worrying about your children being lost, kidnapped, or dead! And it's only 3 monthly installments of $15,000. (Not really. I'm just making my point.)
Do you see my problem with this? Why must we live in such a culture of fear? It's what drives us to do INSANE things! Irrational, unnecessary, and untrusting things that we should never do. We are poisoned by fear against each other - more often doubting than trusting the people around us.
I feel like the Bush administration has done to us with the war. It's like they thought to themselves, "Let's tell them there are weapons of mass destruction so they get really afraid. Then we'll look like knights in shining armor." Too bad there weren't any WMDs. (No, I'll never get over that.)
Every time I read this book to my daughter, I feel a pit in my stomach, and I think it's time to retire it. I don't want her growing up being afraid and consuming and supporting unnecessary & potentially harmful things because of that fear. It seems so innocent -- that's why it makes me so angry.
I'm so glad we are only 5 days from glimmer of HOPE. :o)
nice commentary on the big hungry bear. and hope - it's so close i can almost taste it.
Posted by: Rose McC. | January 17, 2009 at 12:20 PM