Friday, January 2, 2009

Are We All Supporting Communism?

The other day my 7-year-old little brother and one of his friends were fighting over a toy while they were playing together. My impulse reaction was to yell at my brother and tell him to share his toy. As soon as I told him to share, I realized that it may have been the wrong thing to say. Is telling a little kid to share supporting communism?

Of course I'm not completely serious but it is hard not to think about this. The dictionary defines communism as "a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state." By telling my little brother to share his toys could mean that I am telling my brother to share his toys with the community. The toy has now become the property of any friend who wants to play with it.