A parent shared his concern about Donald Trump's authoritarianism after his daughter, who's barely 4-years-old, said that the president is not nice. It's no secret that the approach of America's new leader has become a big issue for some who believe his leadership incites fear, division and hate.
Anthony Giancartarino wrote his sentiments about the challenges of teaching kids to be loving and respectful individuals when the president seems to be doing the opposite. In his piece in the Ignatian Solidarity Network, Giancartarino suggested ways for countering an authoritarian approach with values espoused by St. Ignatius.
The dad and writer believes that parents should first be mindful of their approach in raising loving children. Resistance to authoritarianism shouldn't be countered with negative action, such as anger or fear.
Giancartarino also suggested that parents shouldn't normalize authoritarian approaches especially if they see this happening around them. These matters must be discussed with the children at a level they can grasp. "If we normalize this, we give power and legitimacy authoritarian approaches and we become complicit in policies that are legislating out of hate, not out of love," the father said.
As a family man with strong faith, Giancartarino said that they do the Examen, which St. Ignatius also practiced as a way of cleansing one's conscience, during family dinners. He plans to make this a family ritual.
Chicago Tribune reports that worries about the president's authoritarian approach is reasonable, but then it's also riddled with plenty of conspiracy theories. Some of the fears his critics describe might have been swayed by the narratives reported by liberal media, yet no one can say for sure if the president isn't a big threat to civility and democracy.
What's alarming is that kids see that things are changing with this new government. They notice the chaos on TV or the internet. They sense the tension and stress among adults and those can leave a lasting and damaging impression if not addressed well.
