American Pride Cycle

So, I read an article last week. Now, I can't seem to find it. Basically it was describing how no democracy has lasted much more than 200 years. Eventually they all destroy themselves. They become large and arrogant and declare wars they cannot sustain. If you know the article I'm talking about and you have a link, please let me know so I can post it. Thanks!

The reason this article caught my eye was how simply it described America in the pride cycle. If you've ever read the Book of Mormon you know exactly how this cycle works and we are not in a good place on that cycle. Our society is about to implode and we'll all pay the consequences for it. We are a prideful people and it is now time we turn to God to get us out of the mess we have created for ourselves.

I apologize if this comes off as alarmist, but now is the time for alarm, not when the crisis is upon us. Let me know your thoughts and if you think we're in a better place than I do.

Addendum

I don't think I made it clear why I think it's important to be childlike. I said it because I believe that when we're childlike we more closely resemble the person God wants us to be. When we act "mature" and adultlike we more closely resemble the person we want to be. And it is my firm belief that it is through God and His Son, Jesus Christ that we are saved. So, it is better to be the versions they know is best than just what we think is best.

I know what it is to be childlike

Growing up in the church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) there was always talk about being childlike. I’m not sure where the reference is, but there is scripture telling us to be childlike. This was not to be interpreted as childish. It was not a command to never grow up and be irresponsible. Frankly, in my youth I had no clue what it meant. All I wanted then was to grow up and be an adult. I was growing closer and closer to the time where I would shred my childlike qualities and just be mature and responsible all the time.

As I grew older I began to realize some qualities of a child that would help me be a better person. Being able to listen and obey would help make me a better employee. Being imaginative would help me think outside the box in my problem solving. Being playful would help me enjoy life even when it was hard.

Still, it wasn’t until I moved to Los Angeles that I really learned what was so powerful and great about being childlike. In LA if you’re child like at all you’re looked down on as being naïve and insignificant. They’d rather be a grown up and do reckless things. For them drinking, partying and one night stands are grown up and a natural part of life. Children don’t need to drink to be free or enjoy time with their friends. No substance is necessary for that; they’re just born to be honest and have a good time. They’re not yet afraid to be themselves. Kids are always at a party. Their lives are a reason to celebrate and there is no need for a special occasion. They are free to meet new people when ever the occasion arises. They will talk to whoever they can whenever they can. There are no social mores for them. They sure as heck don’t have one night stands and not just because they don’t have sex. If they “hook-up” with a new friend at the grocery store those two are friends every time they see each other in the future. They want to spend time together in the future. If it was a good time once then it will be a good time again.

The most childlike quality you can have in my opinion is honesty. They are honest with who they are, what they want and what they like. They don’t hide things from us like we do from each other.

The more time I spend at Disneyland the more time I realize just how much I am childlike. The people I work with despise Disneyland. One guy even said he’d rather go to a strip club (gross!) than to Disneyland. The park fulfills my creativity, my dreams and the place I can just be happy to be alive again.

If not through Disneyland we can all strive to be more childlike in our lives. We can reach out to others and try to be more honest with others.

Rich Kids = Wealth of Problems

So, I just read this photo-journal article. It was just showing all these crimes that had been committed by children who had grown up in wealthy families. The article talks about the crotch bomber, John Hinkcley Jr., the Menendez brothers, and even Osama bin Laden. In it's own way the article makes a link between priviledged childhood and a criminal adulthood.

I suppose that raises the question of whether or not their is a causal link or not. Are kids from middle class or even poor families just as likely to commit these crimes. Does the degree of criminal behavior change as you increase or decrease the amount of access a child has to money and possesions. Are their ways for wealthy parents to avoid these risks with their children?

I have some of my own ideas, but I think these questions should absolutely be looked into. In my opinion there is a degree of boredom and the inability to be satiated that can drive young adults to do these things and live lives of crime. The Loeb brothers in the article for example. First, they lacked the necessary love and affection we all need as humans. Second, they had everything they could want. So, in that theory they should have never been bored. However, when everything is available or you can get it, those things become boring. The things you can't have or do become very exciting. Murder is about control, which they didn't really have over their lives, so they murdered because it was something they weren't allowed to do and at the very least it would be interesting. (Just my opionion, I don't know anything about them for sure.)

Of course, not all rich spoiled kids will be criminals. Just look at the Hilton family; those kids haven't killed anyone, yet. However, they are wreckless and there have been a number of DUIs in that family. There are a lot of risks associated with wealth, especially when parents allow posessions to parent their children.

This is just a note to parents and a plea for more research to be done. This is not a good sign for our society and it couldn't hurt to learn how to stop the trend.

My dad is famous now!

just want to give a little shout out to my dad. He's kind of famous now. He lives in Washington and is a huge hockey fan. He follows the local WHL team religiously. He even has season tickets now that he doesn't have kids at home to pay for. For all the years I can remember it was a family tradition for us to go to the game against our rivals on New Year's Eve. It was so much fun and always a great game. Just last night my dad was caught candidly showing his enthusiasm for the team and for the night's celebrations. You can check out the picture with him here or you can just see it below.