Intergenerational Transmission of Historical Enmity

Abstract

One always hears of magnificent causes that are embraced “for the sake of the children. ¹¹ While children are used to touch the sensitive nerve of audiences, the adults who use them never bother to find out how these children feel about the issues. In fact, despite Kanner¹s declaration¹ that this is the century of the child, the adult decision-making world continues to dream of, aspire to, use, abuse and finally rationalize acts as being done for or because of the next generation. They sometimes use questionnaires or opinion polls but these will invariably represent whatever cause the adult who asks the questions embraces. The childre’s authentic input is missing. Adults are able to design arrangements which fit their own needs and ascribe these needs to a lofty cause: “We’re doing it for the children.”