FREEDOM OF SPEECH DOES NOT APPLY TO CHILDREN

Pyper and Elle go to a school that stresses the importance of being pro active about this country no matter who your candidate is.  The past few weeks have been filled with education and explanation of the political process.  Pyper has been fascinated and eager to learn more.  She has watched the debates, and looked up issues on the computer.  I have sat back and let her explore.  I answer her questions the best that I can... but for the most part, I stay out of it.  They have had a lot of fun today making signs for John McCain, and "remember to vote".  They have been picketing in front of our house for awhile now with homemade signs.  What started out all in good fun, ended in tears.  A neighbor lady took it upon herself to approach them and "teach them a lesson."  I saw her walk up, and waited a minuet because a few other people who have walked by have been so nice- and thanked them for the reminder to vote.  I walked outside when I saw her hand them one of their signs.  I told her if she had something to say she needed to talk with me.  You DO NOT approach children that you do not know.  It went on for a few minuets, then I asked her to leave.  She continued to argue with me.  I told her that she should have just taken down the sign and moved on.  They are little girls playing.  Dale and I have spent so much time talking to Pyper about how great it is that we live in a country where we can vote for whoever we want, and that there a lots of terrific people who don't agree with us.  It's much like religion.  We have strong beliefs about our faith- and absolute, sincere respect for those of different faiths.  I feel incredibly lucky to have spent the past 3 1/2 years in a place so incredibly diverse.  My children have learned first hand lessons that I could not have adequately taught them.  Pyper is one of the nicest most sincerely passionate children that I have ever met.  She wants everybody to be happy and included.  She wants to make a difference in the world.  And she wants to exercise her freedom of speech in the most innocent childlike way.  I can do nothing but support that.  (and be very proud that she stands up for what she believes.)  After our 'visitor' left, another neighbor man came up to tell the girls how sorry he was for her behavior.  He was enjoying their songs while he painted his house, and asked them to continue.   I will always believe that there are more good people in the world than bad ones.  I'm just really grateful when their positive voices are as loud as the negative ones.