War and politics

Odd title for a parenting post, however totally inspired by a bed time conversation with little Miss Sunshine last week. My dear, sweet 10yr old loves to chat at bed time. I love to listen. She started telling me about her close friend's father who had applied to join the army here in Australia, yet due to his nationality, even though now an Australian citizen, didn't pass the tests to join. 


Apparently (and this is all according to a 10yr old's perspective) he was asked if the Australian army was to visit his home town in his home country and had to attack, would he be able to do it? 


That's a heavy question, rightly valid, given the commitment of joining the forces. However my Sunshine found the whole concept of war intolerable. She could not see, as many of us do, any point to attacking innocent villages and people in far flung countries that really have no direct threat to our existence here in Australia! 


I had to agree with her! " What is the point of war?", she innocently asked me. I honestly couldn't answer her! I fumbled some contrived response like; "usually over land, territories, borders, people, wealth, natural resources such as oil, gold, diamonds etc"....


She asked about World War I & II and could there be a World War III & who are Australia's allies and would they really come to help us? Far out! And this is bed time conversation! Having current affairs last week all about Anzac Day and whether as a nation we should celebrate it, was topical also, however did not realise how deeply she thought on the topic.


I was touched by her care and concern for her friend's father, also by her palpable distress over the senselessness of war. Also of a child's intrinsic need to feel safe from harm, secure in their own home, city and country. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs triangle in my mind, putting safety needs a close second after physical needs rung really true.


 Thought back to being 10yrs old myself, simply playing with Barbie dolls and riding my Malvern Star bike safely to school on my own! Not fretting over the possibility of World War III!


Then the conversation turned to politics and the recent win of the LNP! She shared the Tarago ALP seats joke as if it was the funniest thing and then asked, "Do you think they can do it?" " Do what?" I quizzed. "Do you really think they can make things better in Queensland?"


Will leave us all with Sunshine's question!


Children, aren't they priceless for challenging us supposed grown ups on what we think is so sophisticated and complicated! War and politics according to a 10yr old is not too dissimilar to what it really is!