Dec

27

Lion KingKnowledge in the past was passed by the senior members of communities to the younger generations in a slow and steady flow of traditions, experience, culture.

This role is less and less evident in the Western world today. Parents and grandparents tend to lead their life getting the most out of it for their own pleasure and satisfaction. I sense less dedication and commitment to transmit the famil'sy and the society's values to the next generations. I do not intend to be negative. It is a change, however, that is impacting our lifestyle and it is caused (at the same time) by our life style. Both parents go to work to make ends meet and/or to fulfill their expectations. They may not have enough time to dedicate. Children and teenagers have started to make use of the network to find answers to questions. Usable knowledge may comes from a virtual (but real) mass of humans who interact and share information through chats and blogs. Some blog the most private details of their youth writing very personal diaries to get some type of support from unknown readers. Also children have started to live their virtual life in the network. Virtual characters websites are an example.

Values proposed as the basis of the interaction are those of the website developer. Values are also broadcast by the latest TV series on the fanciest TV channel. Media are powerful vehicles to develop knowledge through sharing of information, but the direction in which knowledge and education is developed has to be based on values, that cannot be provided by the network or a TV channel. It has to be based on something more individual than global, more private than public. Family members cannot and must not be replaced in this role. The family must fulfill a role that is given by given by mother nature. As a father, I wish I were able to transfer to my girls the best part of myself, as a man.

I wish to transmit the story of our family, what my dreams were when I was a child and what has become of them now.

I wish to let them understand my mistakes and how we can learn from them. I wish to share with them my hopes and future endeavors.

I wish to discuss with them what I see right for their future.

I wish to observe them and help them exploit their talent.

I wish to help them be happy about their life and positive.

I wish to learn and understand their personality and to respect them.

I wish to invest my time in their future.

I wish to try and answer their questions. As they grow up, I expect these questions to become more and more difficult.

It needs preparation, it needs commitment, it needs love.

This is what I wish for next year.

Sam Humbert extends:

Old Grand-dadI got to thinking about Dr. Pezzutti's wise words yesterday, on my daily constitutional, in this case through a 200ish acre woodland park a few miles from my house (Vic and Laurel have written often of the benefits of a quiet walk-in-the-woods, and I've taken their sage advice).

Since I'm in the woods often, I've discovered all the local teenage drinking/smoking hideaways. Yesterday I noticed with dismay, at one of these gathering-spots, a bottle of Bacardi Razz — a fruit-flavored rum-based product that tastes like flavored cough-syrup. I can't imagine voluntarily drinking this stuff.

For how many generations past, in affluent Fairfield County, have the underaged sneaked off with a bottle of Early Times or Old Grand-dad (or other dignified, respectable drink) to indulge in the timeless ritual? And where are their parents now, to educate them about what is meet and right?

Frank Corberts advises:

Sam, I can only conclude by your narrative that you, in fact, tasted from the bottle of Bacardi Razz that you found at said party spot. Are you in the habit of sampling random liquors found in the wilderness? If so, I believe that some bars may offer the dreck of unfinished beverages for a man of your distinction. You may wish to thank your stars that the teens had not substituted some more nefarious mixture in the bottle — say, Green Dragon.

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