Son swore?Strike the father!
In recent times there has been a spate of news items of sons of the rich and the famous and the rich and the infamous getting into trouble by through violation of laws and/or abusive behaviour towards the public servants or fellow citizens. While it is shocking to see the lifestyles and habits of these young people still in schools and colleges, it is worse to hear the statements from their parents and family defending such behaviour.
How do these children develop these attitudes and habits when they have everything that money can buy including good schooling. Or is it the lack of respect for morals that they see in their homes that causes this?
I am reminded of an incident that my son reported to us after a school excursion to Mysore. On their way back their teacher decided to stop at a hydro-electric power project site with a desire to take the boys around the place so they could learn something.An official at the site refused permission saying that visits were allowed only with prior written permission from authorities and he could not permit adhoc visits. The teacher understood the rules but tried to plead that he would accept responsibility for the boys as the trip would be beneficial to students. But as we all know it is tough to beat bureaucracy with reason. When they were about to beat a retreat one of the boys whispered to the teacher,"Sir, note down the name of the official. We`will take care of him." (heasaru note madkoli saar. nodkolana) The boy was the son of a then minister in the state! At 14, he was a fast learner or what?
There was an interview with Saif Ali Khan on CNN IBN and while speaking about his children he said that he would like to be a better person for the sake of his children. In his family , he said, his father had always been a model of exemplary behaviour and for him and his sisters the simple rule for right behaviour had been "Do as father would have done" under the circumstances.
I suppose that is what most parents try hard to be. Don't people in public life realise that charity begins at home so that they can spend a little more time cleaning up their personal lives and being better role models for their children What kind of leaders can we expect them to be if they cannot have their house in order.
It is said that "Doigenes struck the father when the son swore because he taught him no better". I do not know if it was the philosopher or the king. Whoever it was, that is exactly what I'd like to do to some of these fathers who taught their children no better and on top of it try to defend their behaviour and get them out lightly through abuse of their power.
Note: Originally posted on Blogspot. Posting for LJ friends at deponti's request.
How do these children develop these attitudes and habits when they have everything that money can buy including good schooling. Or is it the lack of respect for morals that they see in their homes that causes this?
I am reminded of an incident that my son reported to us after a school excursion to Mysore. On their way back their teacher decided to stop at a hydro-electric power project site with a desire to take the boys around the place so they could learn something.An official at the site refused permission saying that visits were allowed only with prior written permission from authorities and he could not permit adhoc visits. The teacher understood the rules but tried to plead that he would accept responsibility for the boys as the trip would be beneficial to students. But as we all know it is tough to beat bureaucracy with reason. When they were about to beat a retreat one of the boys whispered to the teacher,"Sir, note down the name of the official. We`will take care of him." (heasaru note madkoli saar. nodkolana) The boy was the son of a then minister in the state! At 14, he was a fast learner or what?
There was an interview with Saif Ali Khan on CNN IBN and while speaking about his children he said that he would like to be a better person for the sake of his children. In his family , he said, his father had always been a model of exemplary behaviour and for him and his sisters the simple rule for right behaviour had been "Do as father would have done" under the circumstances.
I suppose that is what most parents try hard to be. Don't people in public life realise that charity begins at home so that they can spend a little more time cleaning up their personal lives and being better role models for their children What kind of leaders can we expect them to be if they cannot have their house in order.
It is said that "Doigenes struck the father when the son swore because he taught him no better". I do not know if it was the philosopher or the king. Whoever it was, that is exactly what I'd like to do to some of these fathers who taught their children no better and on top of it try to defend their behaviour and get them out lightly through abuse of their power.
Note: Originally posted on Blogspot. Posting for LJ friends at deponti's request.