Sylvie Shene - Thoughts

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THOUGHTS

Those who take a stand in today's world on behalf of workers, women, or even mistreated animals will find a group to represent them, but someone who becomes a strong advocate for a child and opposes the lies society has tolerated in the guise of child-rearing practices will stand alone. This situation is difficult to understand, especially when we consider that we were once all children ourselves. I can explain it only by suggesting that unequivocal advocacy of the child represents a threat to most adults. For when it becomes possible for children to speak out and confront us with their experiences, which were once ours as well, we become painfully aware of the loss of our own powers of perception, our sensibilities, feelings, and memories. Only if the child is forced to be silent are we able to deny our pain, and we can again believe what we were told as children: that it was necessary, valuable, and right for us to make the emotional sacrifices demanded of us in the name of traditional child-rearing. As a consequence of the adult's arrogant attitude toward the child's feelings, the child is trained to be accommodating, but his or her true voice is silenced. Another arrogant and blind adult is the result.

From the book: "Pictures Of A Childhood" by Alice Miller

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