OVERLY EXAGGERATED

"[W]e have overly exaggerated in our children's minds their greatness (promise) without any actual accomplishment. We tell them they "are the future" without explaining in concrete terms what that means, without providing the order and discipline that any consciously evolved, humane future would require to be created out of the hateful chaos they have inherited. 

In an egoistic, me-centered, extremely individualistic, neediness-inculcating reality, children naturally adopt and thoroughly internalize a grandiose sense of self importance that has no basis in what they have done or are planning to do. Their innocence and hyper-inflated arrogance, prompted and applauded by historically and ourstorically ungrounded adults, lead them to dream themselves the creators of a "more" beautiful world who have rightly earned the center of all attention. They are children. 

Considering what they are told and given, this is to be expected. What should not be expected are adults without the maturity to speak truth to the children and be that truth themselves. One of the songs which has been most employed to emphasize (and, in an world where truth is given through entertainment, even rationalize) this rampant, directionless, irresponsible spoilage is "The Greatest Love of All." In it, we are asked to "teach them well and let them lead the way/show them all the beauty they possess inside/give them a sense of pride to make it easier." 

The problem in its use as a theme song is that we are not teaching them anything of worth before placing them in leadership positions, are showing them more external ugliness to imitate than internal beauty to cultivate and are substituting a healthy sense of pride with an excessive, empty, self-centered arrogance. Following the true intent of these lyrics would require the courage in effort that, seemingly, so few of us possess."

Mwalimu K. Bomani Baruti

IWA: A Warrior's Character