Why I didn't buy Tenzin an Obama shirt.
So of course I love this shirt, and contemplated buying it for Tenzin during the campaign.
But I didn't.
Because I don't want to politicize Tenzin's body any more than it is already. Because he didn't choose Obama himself. Because he is not a walking billboard for my beliefs.
Because it just didn't feel right.
Because politics is a divisive, winner takes all paradigm. Because while I engage and vote, I do not view the world in terms of sides or camps, and would like to allow my son the same freedom for as long as possible.
Because even though I believe in Obama, I am not certain that inculcating my son into the spectacle, the theater, of politics is actually in his best interest.
Et vous? What did you do?
Comments:
I almost bought one for Elizabeth but that was because she asked for one. It was right after she started kindergarten & she said others had Barackie shirts. Then when I asked her to picked the one she wanted out, she said no. *shrug* The fickle mind of a kindergartener.
yeah, i do the same thing with my kids. I'm ALL about talking through issues and leading them down an ideological path that is centered on kindness and love and compassion--but when it comes to picking and choosing faces/names/parties--then I get very squeamish, and can't do it. They're going to have to go down that route themselves. Although I must admit to having pictures of La Virgin all over the house...
I agree with you Rebecca. It is not the place of parents to use their children's bodies as billboards or walking signs for their own political, religious or social preferences.
I'd prefer my son come to his own conclusions when he is old enough to make an informed decision and not base it on what mom or dad think...
I thought about that long and hard also and decided against it. Of course I want Zenzele (my 4 year old daughter) to have the same values, but could not use her to politicize my beliefs.
In fact, I don't buy her anything with sayings/slogans b/c she has not at a point where she can vocalize her opinions/beliefs.
I totally agreed with your decision to keep slogans etc. off the small bodies of our little people. I live in a big city and there was a lot of hostility towards Obama supporters. As a parent I would have had reservations about putting my youngster in anything political to walk around in public in. I did allow my 10 year old daughter to buy a colorful "Obama Kid" button to wear to school where teachers and other older children had buttons, t shirts and other such gear. As a matter of fact she is wearing it on her sweater today too. She is very proud of it. She was in the booth with me on November 4th and we voted for Barack Obama together and stayed up late to watch the results. She colored in the red & blue states as the results came in. For a older child who has an awareness and excitement about the process, go for it. But for the little ones who don't know what's going on, no way. That's what adults bodies are for.
hi rebecca,
as the mom, at least until my son, zoren, is 18 or until he can convince me otherwise, i get to decide what is best for him. so i did put my 18 month old in a shirt with a home-made obama logo on it and took him to an election party at a wonderful kid-friendly cafe (Tougo) in Seattle, where we gathered with other like-minded families and watched with anticipation.
i decided that what is best for him and i and the country right now is Barack Obama! i hope when he grows up and learns about who Obama is he will feel proud to have been part of this exciting time. And, of course, he is welcome to be disgusted too. at that time, he will have a voice and be free to use it.
we are choosing EVERYTHING for our little ones, every piece of clothing you buy for them or toy you put in their room is your decision and not theirs, so i don't see any difference with this. actually, i see this as much More important than the other choices.
Hey Zelda--interesting perspective! It's a tough call. I grew up with lots of pictures of Fidel Castro around our house, and never questioned Castro and the Cuban revolution. When I went to Cuba, I fell in love with the people I met, and, because of the way I grew up, I was unable to really see or believe the very real and troubling problems behind the significant achievements of the revolution. In other words, the view I was given as a child disabled my ability to see the complexity of the situation. That's the risk, I think, especially with politics.
I think it's good to talk about our choices, but it's also good to keep our kids open so they will be able to see through any one-sided view. I definitely think the world needs Obama, but just like I try to tell him that vegitarians can be as judgmental as any other group that feels they are right, I want Tenzin to be free to have a critique of Obama one day, if he wants to, without feeling conflicted. Hopefully he won't need a critique, but better to be safe than sorry!
Your choice makes much sense. I was ever so proud of my 14-year-old when she came home one day this fall with an Obama t-shirt that she'd bought with her own allowance.
P.S. Your site redesign is beautiful.
So I know I am super late with this but I just had to comment. My older sister and I had this conversation back in January regarding my 4-year-old nephew. We both decided that he should not serve as our little walking billboard to advertise any of our personal beliefs. No doubt we strive to be positive influences in his life and hope that one day he will share some of our ideologies. However, in recognizing the power of informed, non-biased decision-making we'd rather let him decide now and 14 years from now.
Although, I must confess I bought him the coolest Obama t-shirt! He doesn't know about it and still has yet to request any Obama paraphernalia. But I remembered how my sister and I, as kids and even now marveled over our mom’s buttons and signs from the March on Washington in 1963. I can only hope that one day my nephew's generation and those following will look back on this time in history with the same fascination. Plus, how cool will it be for him to show his kids and grandkids a little t-shirt from "back in the day."
I struggled with this a bit, as my 5 year-old (half-filipino, half-jewish) son asked for an Obama shirt repeatedly. I told him he needed to think about why he liked Obama and explain it to me. So the next time he asked for the shirt, I asked him why he liked Obama and he said "Because he's brown." I bought him the shirt.
Ha! It's the other way around in my house! My 12-year-old son bought me a "This Mama's for Obama" car magnet!
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