We wish our children to be upright, candid, frank, self-respecting; for my part, I would rather see them fail with these qualities than succeed by the arts of the slave.
Source: Bertrand Russell: On Education, especially in early childhood, 1926, Pt. 2： Education of character, chap. 8: Truthfulness
More info.： https://russell-j.com/beginner/OE08-090.HTM
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In principle, many parents would agree with Russell's assertions, but in practice, as their children grow, their thoughts and attitudes tend to change. As a result, they often teach their children to listen closely to their elders, especially their teachers, fostering obedience. Only a few adults advise their children to "do what you think is right." Such parents tend to have both confidence and resources, enabling them to support their children in asserting their individuality in various ways.
The citizens of countries such as the United States, Russia, and China largely follow their leaders, Trump, Putin, and Xi Jinping, respectively. However, many parents see this as an unavoidable necessity for navigating the complexities of life. In Japan, aside from bureaucrats and executives of major corporations, few could be described as obedient to Prime Minister Ishiba. Yet, during the tenure of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, many individuals connected to the administration displayed submissive attitudes toward him. Some sought promotion by supporting Abe, despite him being neither fair nor honest.
Over three years ago (around August 2022), it was reported by various media outlets that Prime Minister Abe held discussions at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters with representatives of the former Unification Church, requesting their support to secure the election of Tsuneo Kitamura, a candidate who had little chance of winning on his own, in the House of Councillors election. Even the Sankei Shimbun, which had consistently defended Abe, reluctantly acknowledged this with a restrained report:
“Tsuneo Kitamura, a member of the House of Councillors from the Liberal Democratic Party, issued a statement on the 3rd regarding his connections with the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church) and the church-affiliated political organization, the International Federation for Victory over Communism. He stated, ‘I can confirm that among those who resonated with my political beliefs and activities and supported me, there were individuals from the International Federation for Victory over Communism.’ …”
T.
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