Living in denial is a problem in society. (Frank says that “denial”
is not a river in Egypt!J)
Since the truth seldom wins popularity contests, or sells products or
ideas, denial will continue to flourish.
In a recent Wal-Mart circular featuring school clothes, a girl and a
boy pictured on the cover are wearing camouflage pants while standing in
front of a classroom chalkboard. Inside, there are T-shirts displaying
graphics: a skull atop two crossed swords, a skeleton playing drums; and
messages: “Welcome to the Gun Show” (with a graphic of a character
flexing huge arm muscles), “Annoying the World One Person at a Time”
“Scientific Theory Proven! The universe does revolve around me!” “Stop
Looking at My Shirt.” All this from a store that considers itself
family-oriented!
Aren’t parents in denial of the truth if they think that these
clothes are just innocent fun? The not-so-subtle message here is that it
is desirable to be tough, macho, self-centered, and just plain cruel! In
many cases, bringing up children to be kind and considerate is difficult
enough, without encouraging anti-social behavior. The old “boys will be
boys” denial is wearing thin, and now it’s also “girls will be girls,”
as females increasingly participate in sadistic crimes.
And what about those children who become the victims of these
“products of denial”? It is obvious that the parents or guardians of
bullies are mostly to blame. As long as their kids aren’t at the
receiving end of abuse at the hands of bullies, they just look the other
way or join in the scapegoating.
