Wouldn’t it be nice if our futures followed a path that led to world peace? — Photo taken at Point Pelee National Park in Canada by Pat Bean
“My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth.” – George Washington.
My Wondering Mind Goes Amuck
When I was a young kid in the 1940s and ‘50s, the most popular game for the neighborhood kids was war, with cowboys being the heroes and Indians the villains. I always played Roy Rogers. He was my hero, and if I couldn’t be him, I wouldn’t play.
Instead of asking for a doll for Christmas, I wanted a pair of guns, which I got. They were made from cheap plastic, and painted silver, which quickly wore off. I remember practicing my fast-draw for hours.
Perhaps we should get our children and grandchildren out into nature more, so they can enjoy the peaceful settings of Mother Nature. — Photo taken on Florida’s Merritt Island by Pat Bean
Eventually I grew up, and realized war was real, and butt ugly. I refused to buy toy guns for my children, although others did, and I didn’t take them away from them. They, too, played war.
These days I understand American children, at least those whose lives aren’t trapped by computer war games, still play war with siblings and neighborhood kids. But their heroes are more likely to be Han Solo or Luke Skywalker, or perhaps G.I. Joe. Sadly, in many war-torn countries, children play war emulating real role models, and real events.
Is war a part of our psyche, I ask myself? How did it become a children’s game?
Why are computer war games among the most popular? How do we influence kids to want to place peaceful games? Can we?
As usual this wondering mind of mine is running amuck with questions to which I have no answers. All I can do is try to continue believing that someday war will be a word that has outlived its usefulness.
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Bean Pat: Telling Herstories https://storycirclenetwork.wordpress.com/ A blog for female writers sponsored by Story Circle Network, to which I belong.
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Great post, Pat. I’m going to spread peace and tweet this – let me know if you prefer that I don’t. Have a great weekend!
I’d love you to tweet it. Thanks.
Cowboys and Indians, but of course! Like you, I witness the ongoing fascination with water pistols and such nd wonder how can we find a way to purge this from our culture…. why does man feel the need to fight/quarrel with one another? it’s the mean ones that make it hard on the others!
The problem is that we all have the mean gene. We fall either on the side of bravado or cowardice. War is about pride and selfishness so it’s difficult to imagine humanity getting past that. (I’m pretty selfish and cowardly at times).
Thanks Ethel
You’re so right. Thanks for commenting.
A profound message Simple and thoughtful.
This has been on my mind a lot, too. Actually, since having kids, I’ve begun to look at the world differently, fearfully. What are we doing to our precious world?
When I was growing up, my sister and I used to play Charlie’s Angels (do you remember that TV show? With Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd and Kate Jackson). And even though that show wasn’t about warfare, it was definitely about the good guys overcoming the bad guys.
Maybe what is part of our psyche is to play games where the good guys beat the bad guys, and the most interesting way to do that is through physical action, weapons, violence, war.
I much prefer peaceful methods in settling our conflicts in real life, and those methods can work when they’re executed wisely. But peaceful methods aren’t nearly as entertaining when we “play pretend.” 🙂
Yup, re remembering Charlie’s Angels. Great thoughts. Thanks for sharing them.