Posted on 04/25/2006 10:14:19 AM PDT by shining_city
Authors of the controversial children's books “Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed” and “Why Mommy is a Democrat” agree on one thing -- it's important to pass on your political values to your kids.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 25, 2006 -- Instead of sheltering their kids from their political views, parents should take an active role in teaching them to their kids. This is the controversial stance being taken by the authors of two popular children's books.
“Parents who believe in traditional values should absolutely try to instill those values in their kids,” says Katharine DeBrecht, author of the bestselling picture book “Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed” (Kids Ahead; hardcover; ISBN 0976726904). “Liberals have been using books in our schools and libraries for years to hoist their left-wing agenda on children. Parents who believe in traditional values have no choice but to respond and make sure that their kids hear their side of the story.”
DeBrecht, a mother of three, points to books such as “King & King” (where a prince decides to marry another prince) and “Rainbow Fish” (where a beautiful fish is bullied into giving away his shiny scales so that all fish look the same) as examples of children's books with a liberal bias that have often been reported as being read in schools.
While approaching the subject from a differing political position from DeBrecht, Jeremy Zilber -- a visiting assistant professor at Lawrence University and the author of “Why Mommy is a Democrat” (Little Democrats; paperback; available at littledemocrats.net) -- agrees that politics shouldn't be considered an out-of-bounds topic for parents.
“One of the most important and challenging tasks facing parents is instilling a set of values in their children,” says Zilber, whose book uses a family of squirrels to illustrate Democratic values. “Books like 'Why Mommy is a Democrat' offer parents a means to increase their children's awareness, interest, and understanding of American politics while gently introducing them to the core values of the Democratic party.”
DeBrecht's “Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed” garnered national attention last fall for its portrayal of Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy as cartoon villains who tax and regulate a lemonade stand run by two young brothers. The illustrated book hit #1 on the Barnes & Noble website while also drawing fiery criticism from a long list of liberals, including Alan Colmes, Ron Reagan, and even Hillary Clinton's press secretary. This spring, DeBrecht unveiled “Help! Mom! Hollywood's in My Hamper” (Kids Ahead; hardcover: $15.95; ISBN 0976726912), an illustrated book which uses look-alikes of Barbra Streisand, Tom Cruise, and Madonna to teach kids not to try to emulate the celebrities they see on television.
“Jeremy Zilber and I may not agree on many issues,” notes DeBrecht, “but we both agree that it's appropriate for parents to share their political values with their kids.”
of course.
I have learned a lot from my mom over the years. It would have been impossible to grow up in my house and not know who Ronald Reagan was. :)
And teachers should keep their noses out of it.
I am glad my mom and Dad let me develope my own political identity. They are DU material, former flower children. I grew up under Carter/Reagan. I watched my parents union call for strike after strike until finally the local mill just folded. They still don't understand their role in that.
Heck even a 15 y/o kid (me) saw what happened and why.
Notice, it's only controversial when parents get involved. (I guess it's the prerogative of the left wing establishment only.)
The one which hit me when I was young was the Little Red Hen. Everyone was too lazy to help the hen produce the bread but were more than willing to help eating it after it was baked. A lot of other things taught me the injustice of those who could work but didn't demanding the labor from those who did work, but none of them had quite the impact of that first story.
Do little kids still read The Little Red Hen, or has Heather Has Two Mommies bumped it aside?
Yes,
I've tried to teach my young one that out of control government is the biggest threat to freedom.
Good for them. I am doing the same for my kids. It is tough..bt worth it.
I remember the Little Red Hen. There was also one about an ant and a grasshopper that had similar connotations, but I've forgotten the title of it.
The Little Engine that Could also comes to mind. To me it was a great story about what an individual can accomplish through hard work and determination.
...“Rainbow Fish” (where a beautiful fish is bullied into giving away his shiny scales so that all fish look the same)
The Republican version would feature a beautiful fish who made himself rich through his own hard work who is bullied into giving away all his valuable scales so that lazy fish could look cool without doing any work to achieve it.
My wife and I are already doing this with our daughter. By the time she hits grade school, we ought to have quite the budding capitalist on our hands.
No way am I teaching the kids politics. I pay taxes which go to the schools, let the teachers teach them the importance of diversity and socialisim (/sarcasam)
I got my husband "Help, Mom! There's a Liberal Under my Bed!" to put in his stocking. My then-two-year-old appropriated it.
Now she must have her "liberal book" to take to bed. Her favorite insult is "You liberal!", and if you ask her she will tell you she is conservative.
My Dad think she will get expelled from kindergarten. :)
LOL!! I love it. A little one after my own heart.
My heart too, God Bless our future "Great Americans".
My 5yo son is cast in the patriotic mold as well and he will tell you: "I'm not an angry liberal, I am a happy Conservative"...or.."Liberals are tree-hugging hippies".
I am so proud :)
How Will the 2008 Election Affect the War on Terror?
By Katharine DeBrecht
The top 3 GOP Presidential candidates may be creating a buzz in the media, but their stance on several social issues has left the Conservative base far from enthusiastic. Conservative voters are left holding a mixed bag of issues, such as abortion, stem cell research, immigration and gay marriage, which are deal-breakers to far too many.
How could social issues trump security in a time of war? The belief among many Conservatives is that a country that has lost its moral compass is it’s own worst enemy. Likening the current moral decay to the corrupt societies that caused Rome and other great empires to implode from within, many Conservatives place equal importance on social issues, as well as on the War on Terror.
Rudy Giuliani’s leadership qualities as America’s Mayor are tempting to many Conservatives at a time when a war has not proved popular, but his positions on abortion and gay marriage, and his public affair has left a bad taste in the mouths of many voters. Mitt Romney’s miraculous and timely conversion on abortion appears too coincidental with his Presidential run, and while few publicly admit to it, the “Mormon Factor” is still lingering in the minds of many. John McCain angered and alienated many Republicans with his Gang of 14 and amnesty for illegals. With these top 3 “social-lites”, Republican Party leadership has left its voters with a damned if they do, damned if they don’t choice.
Will Republicans hold their noses and vote for candidates strong on defense and light on moral issues? Will they risk the Republican Party morphing into a party slightly right of the Democratic Party, their country further slipping into moral decay, because Democrats are simply weak-kneed when it comes to fighting a war? Conservatives answered that question in 2006 and opted to stay home, handing Congress over to these Democratic leaders with weak constitutions who forced President Bush’s second veto on a spending bill that included a date of surrender. Will 2008 be any different?
The notion of another Clinton Presidency that demotes terrorism to a law enforcement issue may provide just enough push to get some voters to the polls, but almost six years without an attack has created complacency in the minds of voters with notoriously short memories. If the Republican Party is serious about winning the War on Terror, they must be even more serious about selecting Presidential candidates who excite their base, not immobilize them.
The 2008 Presidential campaign cycle is a long one and there are many other true Conservative leaders in the Republican Party with great ability to execute the War on Terror. Surely than can find another Reagan in there somewhere.
# #
FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Katharine DeBrecht is author of the hilarious book “Help Mom! There are Liberals under My Bed”, a freelance newspaper reporter and a member of the South Carolina Federation of Republican Women.
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/challenges.php?id=972502#
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