Now there's a new genre of children's literature designed to catechize youngsters in "party values." Political activist Jeremy Zilber has written a new book for children, Why Mommy Is a Democrat. The book features cute pictures of a cuddly maternal squirrel teaching her little ones why "Democratic values" are best. "Democrats make sure we all share our toys, just like Mommy does," the book notes. "Democrats make sure we are all safe, just like Mommy does."
The book promo assures us that it uses "warm and non-judgmental language" but with "numerous subtle (and not-so-subtle) swipes at the Bush Administration and the Republican Party."
. . . I find this kind of humorless political propaganda for the kindergarten set a bit scary. It's not "Uncle Joe" Stalin surrounded by smiling children, mind you, but, even so, it's a bit strange. And I would say the same thing about a GOP version: "Republicans protect us from terrorists and evildoers, just like Daddy does." In fact, the conservative versions already exits: think Fox News spin-caster Bill O'Reilly's children's book. Can Ann Coulter for Preschoolers be far behind?
At first I couldn't put a finger on my discomfort with this until I realized: it's Sunday school material. In Red and Blue America, we've so privatized our religious convictions ("We're going to let Johnny choose whether or not he goes to church, and which one") that all we have left is our political identities. And so much separates us now that it really matters why Mommy is a Democrat or why Daddy is a Republican, or vice-versa.
I suppose such children's books and radio programs and television shows will only continue. Intentionally catechized Christian little ones may seem stranger and stranger as hyper-partisan America raises up its children in the nurture and admonition of Caesar.
Red and Blue Toddlers?
Sunday, January 29, 2006
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