[TheForge] Shortcut Sword?

[theforge@mailman.qth.net]

In a message dated 11/4/2003 6:39:58 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
osan@netlabs.net writes:
There are very few American kids that can do the same today, and I
    firmly believe that they are strongly, if tacitly, encouraged to be as
    completely helpless as possible; grows em up into pliable adults.  I find
    it sad, not to mention something of disgusting, but that is the world in
    which we live.  It's that way because people want it that way. It's easy
    that way.  It's convenient.  It's simple.  It's without real 
accountability
    for parents.

    Such is life, I suppose.
I'm just a lurker on the list, hoping to get started in blacksmithing some 
day soon.  But this comment is so right on the mark that I had to add my two 
cents.  Yes, our society in general encourages young and old alike to become 
helpless and rely on someone else...anyone else!  We've set aside important skills 
and have turned our collective back on the value of becoming well-rounded 
individuals.  I refuse to let this happen to my two sons.  I don't want them to 
grow up to be helpless, incapable, and pliable.  I want them to be strong, 
decisive, and self-reliant.  I make every effort to teach them to be responsible 
for themselves and their actions, to be able to care for themselves and to 
understand that they should care for others, and to see the value and 
accomplishment in doing things with their own hands and minds.  We engage in lots of 
interesting hobbies (hoping to add blacksmithing and casting soon!) and they've 
become reasonably capable in many areas from cooking and basic auto care to 
woodworking and playing a variety of musical instruments.  They're both A/B 
students, Cub Scouts, play on sports teams (soccer season just ended...basketball's 
next), and are respectful young men.  I'm very proud of them, and I'm certainly 
not interested in relieving myself of accountability for their upbringing.  
If our society's in trouble, then the solutions start at home.  We're trying to 
do our part here...and so far it's working out very well.

Larry


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