Think of the children: Difference between revisions
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The phrase "'''for the children'''", or "'''think of the children'''," is an often-used rhetorical phrase. As people generally value the welfare of the next generation of a society, it has been perceived as a powerful argument to cast a position in a starkly positive or negative light, depending on whether the policy is perceived as beneficial or harmful to children. Typically the argument is seen in debates over matters such as education, culture, and crime, as children are impressionable and youth crime is thought to be particularly harmful. The use of such arugments has been criticized as an [[appeal to emotion]] that can be used to support an [[Ignoratio elenchi|irrelevant conclusion]], however, and some classify it as a "[[Thought-terminating cliché]]." |
The phrase "'''for the children'''", or "'''think of the children'''," is an often-used rhetorical phrase. As people generally value the welfare of the next generation of a society, it has been perceived as a powerful argument to cast a position in a starkly positive or negative light, depending on whether the policy is perceived as beneficial or harmful to children. Typically the argument is seen in debates over matters such as education, culture, and crime, as children are impressionable and youth crime is thought to be particularly harmful. The use of such arugments has been criticized as an [[appeal to emotion]] that can be used to support an [[Ignoratio elenchi|irrelevant conclusion]], however, and some classify it as a "[[Thought-terminating cliché]]." |
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==Examples== |
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* Perhaps the most famous example is [[Anita Bryant]]'s successful 1977 [[Save Our Children]] campaign to repeal a Florida ordinance which outlawed discrimination on the basis of [[sexual orientation]].<ref>http://www.pbs.org/outofthepast/past/p5/1977.html</ref> Similar logic was used in [[California Proposition 8]] in 2008 which amended the state constitution to outlaw same-sex marriage. Proponents of the measure claimed it was a matter of "children's rights" to a mother and a father. |
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* Ralph Manheim's translation [[Adolf Hitler]]'s book ''[[Mein Kampf]]'' contains a quote rather similar to a "for the children" argument. It reads "the state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation." |
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* A 2006 [[ballot initiative]] before the voters of [[Cook County, Illinois]] read, "For the health and safety of children and the entire community, shall the State of Illinois enact a comprehensive ban on the manufacture, sale, delivery and possession of military-style assault weapons and .50 caliber rifles?"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.commondreams.org/news2006/0809-09.htm |title=Referendum Supporters Gather at Morgue, Hoping Assault Weapons Victims Can One Day Stop Showing Up There|accessdate=2008-06-13|date=2006-08-09|publisher=Common Dreams}}</ref> |
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* "Won't someone think of the children?", a critical essay from USA Today.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2004-07-08-kantor_x.htm | publisher=USATODAY.com |title=Won't someone think of the children? |date=2004-07-16| accessdate=2008-06-13 | author=Andrew Kantor}}</ref> |
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* The phrase "Won't somebody please think of the children?" is a [[running gag]] on ''[[The Simpsons]]'', most often exclaimed by the minister's wife, [[Helen Lovejoy]], whenever the town faces a problem, however minor or catastrophic.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.consciouscreation.com/cce-ThinkChildren.htm | title=Won't Somebody PLEASE Think of the Children? | author=Kristen N. Fox | publisher=Conscious Creation | accessdate=2008-06-13}}</ref> |
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*"We are fighting for freedom for our children every bit as much as in any war we've ever been in." Senator [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] (R-TX).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/03/19/kay-bailey-hutchinson-hitting-the-mini-bar/ | author=John Amato | publisher=Crooks and Liars |title=Kay Bailey Hutchinson hitting the mini-bar |accessdate=2008-06-13 |date=2007-03-19}}</ref> |
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* In the [[New Zealand general election, 2008|2008 New Zealand election]], this is a theme of the [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party]]'s billboard campaign, including a picture of a young girl with the words "Vote for me",<ref>{{cite web | title=Image Gallery - Vote for Me | url=http://www.greens.org.nz/node/19723?size=preview}}</ref> and a baby in a pram giving the viewer the finger, under the caption "Vote Green, or your grandchildren will be really pissed off!"<ref>{{cite web|title=Vote Green, or your grandchildren will be really pissed off!|url=http://www.greens.org.nz/node/19889}}</ref> |
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* The theme is also used in the [[white power]] '[[Fourteen Words]]' motto created by [[David Lane (white nationalist)|David Lane]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hate on Display: 14 words|url=http://www.adl.org/hate_symbols/numbers_14words.asp|publisher=Anti-Defamation League|downloaded=2007-06-01}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 21:26, 28 February 2009
- This article refers to the political phrase. For the British television programme, see For The Children.
The phrase "for the children", or "think of the children," is an often-used rhetorical phrase. As people generally value the welfare of the next generation of a society, it has been perceived as a powerful argument to cast a position in a starkly positive or negative light, depending on whether the policy is perceived as beneficial or harmful to children. Typically the argument is seen in debates over matters such as education, culture, and crime, as children are impressionable and youth crime is thought to be particularly harmful. The use of such arugments has been criticized as an appeal to emotion that can be used to support an irrelevant conclusion, however, and some classify it as a "Thought-terminating cliché."
Examples
- Perhaps the most famous example is Anita Bryant's successful 1977 Save Our Children campaign to repeal a Florida ordinance which outlawed discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.[1] Similar logic was used in California Proposition 8 in 2008 which amended the state constitution to outlaw same-sex marriage. Proponents of the measure claimed it was a matter of "children's rights" to a mother and a father.
- Ralph Manheim's translation Adolf Hitler's book Mein Kampf contains a quote rather similar to a "for the children" argument. It reads "the state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation."
- A 2006 ballot initiative before the voters of Cook County, Illinois read, "For the health and safety of children and the entire community, shall the State of Illinois enact a comprehensive ban on the manufacture, sale, delivery and possession of military-style assault weapons and .50 caliber rifles?"[2]
- "Won't someone think of the children?", a critical essay from USA Today.[3]
- The phrase "Won't somebody please think of the children?" is a running gag on The Simpsons, most often exclaimed by the minister's wife, Helen Lovejoy, whenever the town faces a problem, however minor or catastrophic.[4]
- "We are fighting for freedom for our children every bit as much as in any war we've ever been in." Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX).[5]
- In the 2008 New Zealand election, this is a theme of the Green Party's billboard campaign, including a picture of a young girl with the words "Vote for me",[6] and a baby in a pram giving the viewer the finger, under the caption "Vote Green, or your grandchildren will be really pissed off!"[7]
- The theme is also used in the white power 'Fourteen Words' motto created by David Lane.[8]
References
- ^ http://www.pbs.org/outofthepast/past/p5/1977.html
- ^ "Referendum Supporters Gather at Morgue, Hoping Assault Weapons Victims Can One Day Stop Showing Up There". Common Dreams. 2006-08-09. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ Andrew Kantor (2004-07-16). "Won't someone think of the children?". USATODAY.com. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ Kristen N. Fox. "Won't Somebody PLEASE Think of the Children?". Conscious Creation. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ John Amato (2007-03-19). "Kay Bailey Hutchinson hitting the mini-bar". Crooks and Liars. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ "Image Gallery - Vote for Me".
- ^ "Vote Green, or your grandchildren will be really pissed off!".
- ^ "Hate on Display: 14 words". Anti-Defamation League.
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