"J Fortuna" wrote in message
news:C6q5f.4699$t12.3742@trnddc03...
That's what's wrong with America: not enough orchids. Let's advocate
improving family values by mandating that every family must have at least
2
orchids, the required amount to be increased on an annual basis.

Hey, why not make it two per parent and one per child, with the stipulation
that both of the parents must teach their kids about orchid culture. Just
think what impact all that contact between parents and their kids could
have. But I think I'd supplement it by requiring families to ensure that
their kids start caring for animals no later than when they're ten years
old, and continue for at least five years. This could be with their own
pets or volunteering at the nearest SPCA or veterinarian clinic or hospital.
I say this because two of my nephews are the same age (now young men), and
one cared for up to three dozen rabbits at a time from the time he was a
pre-teen until he finished secondary school. The other did not. Their
upbringing was pretty much the same otherwise. The nephew who raised the
rabbits is incredibly patient, considerte and kind, especially with kids,
while the other is not. The only explanation that occurs to me is that the
one who did not take care of animals, usd that time to focus on his own
needs and desires while the other learned to care for living things that
were dependant on him for all of their needs, and the consideration learned
ended up being extended to other human beings, especially young children.
And he had MUCH MUCH less time to focus on his own needs and desires. I
don't think merely demonstrating such care and consideration is enough since
both of my sisters had cats while the boys were growing up and well modeled
such nurturing behaviours both in the care of their kids and in the care of
their animals. The kids need opportunity to put such instruction into
practice.

I think caring for orchids may have substantial benefit with regard to
promoting family values, especially if children have to pay for the plants,
or replacement plants when they kill a plant, and for things like potting
media and fertilizer. Whether caring for plants or animals, the kids and
parents would have to study the plant or animal and learn about what it
needs. Perhaps experienced parents could ad wisdom here as I speak only as
a largely objective observer, having no wife or kids of my own.

It would be interesting to see whether the Chinese initiative is effective,
and it would be equally interesting to see, or at least speculate on, the
potential impact of the orchid industry promoting such a concept in the
west. How much would the orchid industry grow? What impact on social
institutions would be observed? It would also be of interest to learn why
'family values' remain a concern in China while they remain of concern in
the west primarily in faith communities. Perhaps, in its hostility toward
faith, the secular west has discarded the related family values also. But I
don't want to spend significant time on this question at this time. I offer
this just as food for thought.

Cheers,

Ted


--
R.E. (Ted) Byers, Ph.D., Ed.D.
R & D Decision Support Solutions
http://www.randddecisionsupportsolutions.com/
Healthy Living Through Informed Decision Making