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.
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?
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2 comments:
I beat my kids for even considering the idea of sharing their toys, for exactly that reason. Right on!
In answer to your question, I would have to say no, because to share a toy in the situation you describe is to imply ownership. Possession of property means to be able to dispose of property in any way you choose: sell it, bequeath it, destroy it...share it. Thus, when we teach children to share, we are actually teaching them a sense of the abundance of property as well as a respect for property: if you share it, the other person must return it in acceptable condition. A 7 year old might not get that until he breaks the truck he was playing with and his parents make him pay to replace it. Interesting question. I shall ponder it more fully.
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