Damn Straight they Can

Maurice Sendak, Author of Where the Wild Things Are, has told parents who are worried that the new movie based on his book will scare their children to "go to hell". Damn straight. As far as I'm concerned, coddling a child is one of the worst things you can do to her. Or him for that matter. It's almost a form of negative abuse. Sure you're not molesting them, hitting them or swearing at them, but a child protected from ever having to be scared is going to end up a whiny little wimp totally unable to think for himself. Kids need to experience the full range of emotions so that they can learn to deal with them while still young and pliable. Plus, the habits of mind that this sheltering fosters are a timidity and unwillingness to stand up for yourself. Maybe that's why, in our child-centric, foam-padded culture, we are almost completely unable of generating any new and daring thought of any sort, be it art or politics.