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Entry: Adolescence: A Heresy Link: http://www.takimag.com/site/article/the_case_against_adolesence#10727 Post contents: My two sons, ages 12 and 15, and a friend, also 15, took rakes in hand and walked the neighborhood attempting to find yard work to earn some money. They were turned down everywhere except at our immediate neighbors. Why? People fear teenagers now, more than they fear the illegal aliens who they contract with to do their yardwork now. Nevermind that my sons have lived in this community all their lives and never caused anyone any trouble, and nevermind that we have no knowledge of any previous criminal background of the illegal Mexican who has free reign in the neighborhood while my sons do not. The homeowner is thinking "what mischief will these tool-wielding boys do me" and "will I be sued if they hurt themselves." It is clear that Americans, not just adolescents, are infantilized. We expect to experience an optimum life with no injuries, disappointments or setbacks. And that is true among adults who had childhoods full of adventure and responsiblity. They, after all, are the parents currently infantalizing their children. Our nation of immigrants came from dirt, hard work, loss, heartbreak, personal and social devastation and poverty. In their zeal to make sure their children never had to suffer these misfortunes, the American nation has become sanitized beyond a level that is healthy for the continuation of our society. Let's not look to Jane Adams to hold responsiblity for our current cultural aversion to unhappiness - she, after all, sought to alleviate the conditions caused by man's inhumanity to man - but look in our mirrors for the answer. My sons are the ONLY BOYS in our community to cut my grass and shovel our snow and that of our neighbors. I don't have an electric garage door opener because I have boys who can get out of the car and pull up the door. Jane Addams had no effect on my choice. It is considered "low-class" in my community for children to be seen doing manual labor. And please understand, the Mexican illegal immigrant who wears a barn coat and billed cap no matter how cold the weather, and whose children have no boots or mittens CHOOSES to live that way! They are laughing at us Americans and our lack of initiative. Sent at: 2008 12 01