To Be A Man: (A Thesis on the Sociological Discourse between Children and Adults)
Living in such a society as that of modern times, many people have often come to believe that the gap between the adult and the child is vast and expansive. But nothing could be farther from the truth.
What separates a man from a child isn't the sole age of an individual, but responsibility to own one's actions.
Benjamin Franklin himself once said in Poor Richard's Almanac, "How few there are who have the courage enough to own their own faults, or resolution enough to mend them! Men differ daily, about things which are subject to sense, is it likely then they should agree about things invisible?"
Truer words have never been spoken in regards to adulthood, as many works of fiction have pictured adulthood as the greatest of achievements, wherein one must undertake a rigorous and systematic rite of passage. These are often portrayed as losing one's virginity, their innocence, and gaining independence and strength through intellectual and physical empowerment.
These are all but a means to an end, an end, that is adulthood, that can never be achieved by these means.
One cannot measure one's maturity in strength of body, but also of strength of mind and spirit.
The gap between the child and the adult is no wider than a crack on the sidewalk, perhaps even thinner.
It is often known that the adult who refuses to mature and act their own age often suffers a symptom called, "Puer Aeternus". More commonly known as the Peter Pan syndrome.
Many people accuse the man-child of refusing to take responsibility to own their actions, and take action to improve their lifestyle. Such people often remain ignorant to that which has transpired in the victim's life.
The child who takes responsibility for his faults and desires to mend them has attained a higher understanding of adulthood than the adult who refuses to take responsibility for his actions and rather, blames his own kin, burdening them for a fault not their own.
It is maddening; the enormity of lengths people , let alone adults who children have looked up to, will go to cover up a petty fault, even if it costs the lives of others, including that of their own children.
If a parent be named a guardian, is it not proper and right that they ought to act as such?
Those who wish to become a parent for its own sake have already failed in being a parent and forsaken their role. For their children are not theirs to rule over, but theirs to guide, to pass on knowledge.
The greatest tragedy one can imagine is when the victim becomes the transgressor, and passes their own childhood trauma; their inner demons to the next generation.
The journey to transcend eternal adolescence in the face of adult neglect and maltreatment is seldom easy, as many of them have come to fear responsibility as a burden, as they were burdened with responsibilities not their own, but from the cowardly and the selfish. Fear not. Responsibility is not a burden, but an obstacle, much like a mountain, owning responsibility is owning the trail you climb. It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.
If you tire, fear not, be attentive to yourself; as many great mentors have before. Seek truth from the lies of worldly men and find comfort from your suffering. It is not a weakness but a necessity.
Youth of the world, pay no mind nor manner to those who accuse you of being unmanly, for their tongues are poisoned with ignorance, and in their lack of knowledge fare no better than the hypocrite.
If we adults of the world refuse to treat children as people, it is likely they will never grow up to be people.
So let our generation bridge the gap that separates understanding between child and adult, and establish a trust between one another, for our children are not mere laborers, nor are they manservants, but they are our last hope to preserve that which we cherish in this world.
