In regards to the question of talking to the kids... This is going to sound invented, but it is the truth: Saturday, my wife and 8 year old son were unable to go to my gunshop with me (they normal come in on Saturdays and help) due to it being opening ceremonies day for my son's Little League, and the fact that he had a 5:30 game. We met at the local Cracker Barrel after the game for dinner. My son chose to ride back to the house with me... He looked up and noticed the crescent moon and the bright star over it and asked me to look at it as well. I told him that it was very pretty, but every time I see the moon and that star aligned that way that I worry about an attack by islamists.
We then went on to discuss the different symbols of the different religions... The cross... The Star of David... and the crescent moon and star. I explained to him that islamists look for any excuse to attack, including signs in the heavens such as a crescent moon and the star. We have always made it a point to never hide anything about the way religions respond to religions. He fully understands the dangers of islam, and knows the history of their attacks. He knows that I lost friends on 9/11 and that islamists where the murderers on that day. He understands that they do not attack you for anything that you have done to them, but rather the fact that you are who you are... He knows that "taqiyya" (lying per the instruction of allah) is acceptable to them, and that they will do so without a second thought if it furthers their advance. He understands that the only thing jihadists respect is brute force, and that they view "negotiation" as a sign of weakness. He knows that they, from their perspective, feel they have all the time in the world to complete their conquest of the world and that therefore they are very patient.
Yesterday, when we picked him up from school, we told him what had happened in Boston... We discussed the victims, the deaths, the injuries, and the motives. He watched the video of the explosion on television. I don't believe that shielding him from this would serve any good purpose. There are certain things from which I protect my son in order to let him be a child for as long as possible... But I will not hide the truth regarding islam from him, lest I cause him ignorance that would bring him to harm. He understands that there is a time to fight and a time to walk away... In order to help him know the diffence I teach him the important things. He knows his U.S. history, and once (when about 4) told me that he wanted to be a soldier in WWII when he grows up so that he can fight Hitler and those like him. (He also has posters of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights - along with a pocket guide to each.) He has made "gold honor roll" ever since he started school - but I am just as proud of him for his since of patriotism and his knowledge of U.S. History.
If parents care about their children at all, they need to be educating them on the deceitful ways of islam and other such ilk.
normal = normally
My goodness, I'm not doing well at all in composition today...
Thank you for sharing. It sounds like you raising your son very well.
P.S. I saw that beautiful crescent and star the other night too.