mrsday • April 9, 1998
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Finding your inner child
PERSONAL
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Miscovering the joy of one's childhood offers valuable tips for optimism, social skills
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Manisha
Parekh
columnist
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)w, you are probably too old and ma-
br that kid’s stuff, right? Oh, by the way,
e your stress levels and ulcers doing?
nerica is growing old before its time,
em to be in such a hurry to grow up
e forget about the joys of staying
g. Somewhere between kindergarten
(college, we seem to lose our ability to
life. It is as if the minute we throw
our comfy overalls and start dress-
mate needed as a: s »lurselves without Mommy’s help, we
n away the quirky view of life that
ren have. It is as if the moment pu-
^ kicks in, every childlike quality is
i away in order to be “mature.”
? 0l course, it is true that as humans ma-
into responsible adults, they leave
ind many of the behaviors that are
|s of being a child. Adults are not sup-
id to have temper tantrums or pull
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civil society.
But there is a big difference between
acting like an adult and acting like a bor
ing, stuffy person.
Being an adult does not mean that you
have to look wistfully at a park swing as you
drive by, not stopping to swing because
that’s “kids’ stuff.” Being an adult does not
mean that you can not stop and play in the
mud (just ask anyone at Bonfire cut).
And I seriously doubt that getting
drunk on Northgate and passing out is
even half as fun as a rousing game of
Red Rover.
According to authors such as Deepak
Chopra and John Bradshaw, allowing
yourself to act and behave young in the
appropriate circumstances can actually
keep you young.
My father is a perfect example of this.
At age 57, my father still embraces life
with the excitement of a child. As hard as he
works, that is how hard he plays. At Indian
dances, my father is easy to pick out: he’s the
one one grinning like a little kid and dancing
like there is no tomorrow. He is quite a char
acter and a whole lot of fun. I do not think it
is any coincidence that he is incredibly
healthy and looks years younger than he is.
My father never let go of his inner
child. And neither should you.
Being a kid is fun. It relieves stress and
releases tension. And in many instances,
it the best thing for your mind and body.
Being a kid helps you remember what is
most important in life, family. Do you re
member how you could not wait to tell your
parents when you did something right? Your
parents would probably be just as proud of
your accomplishments today (waking up in
time for class) as when you were a kid. So
give them a call and let yourself indulge in
some quality parent and kid time.
Being a kid helps you forgive and for
get. How many times did your childhood
friends accidentally put paste in your hair
or mess up your new drawing? Chances
are, you made up with them every time
and went back to being friends. Remem
ber that the next time your roommate ac
cidentally forgets to give you a message or
your date spills Coke all over you.
Being a Idd gives you hope and makes
you optimistic. How many times did you
keep trying to catch a squirrel or climb the
tallest tree in the neighborhood, without
success, only to try again? Kids can be
pretty inspirational when it comes to deal
ing with the biggest obstacles, kind of like
finals or papers.
Growing up does not mean that you
have to let go of any of that joy. Growing
up does not mean that you have to leave
your inner child behind. Growing up sim
ply means that you decide to become an
inner parent to your inner child.
So when school and work and relation
ships are getting you down, think back to
elementary school and let your inner child
come out and play. That wish you made on
last night’s star might just come true.
Manisha Parekh is a sophomore
psychology and journalism major.
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sing law or public out
cry to force an individ
ual or group with preju-
views to behave or speak
:ertain way is not always
ost productive solution,
addition to being hypo-
:al and anti-free speech,
coercive techniques often
[o address the underlying
ides. Left to fester, these
ides frequently emerge in
:r, more dangerous ways,
idice-fighters can avoid
icrisy by abiding offensive
JL
Adam
Collett
columnist
f systems while simultaneously engaging those
espouse them.
urrently, the Boy Scouts are causing a flap by
[dfastly refusing to permit admitted homosexuals
orkfor or participate in the organization. The
epts that fuel the outcry over those actions, po-
1 correctness and inclusiveness, have noble
s. But taken to an extreme, they suggest that the
thing that we can’t tolerate is intolerance,
is both hypocritical and paradoxical to preach
[nness with one hand but to use the other to close
[door to certain viewpoints.
remove this inconsistency, we must be willing
â– low divergent viewpoints like those of the Boy
:outs, no matter how repugnant they may be.
[’hose who oppose their actions and beliefs — 1
one of them — have the right to disagree. But dis
cing while holding the moral high ground does
justify the present attempts to coerce the Scouts
th Texas Guarantee!
nonprofit corport
ents realize their
•am matches you
. you practical
If today. TG intern
following areas:
setween borrower
into a certain behavior pattern.
Certainly, if the Boy Scouts are breaking the law
(as is being argued in some of the challenges to their
policies), then of course they should be forced to
change. The courts will determine if this is so and
will take the appropriate actions. But beyond that,
the views should be permitted to be expressed.
This does not mean supporters of cultural sensi
tivity have to sit back and suffer the slings and arrows
of outrageous comments.
On the contrary, they can take advantage of a
wonderful opportunity to engage the other side. If
we use every legal tool and public pressure to change
their surface behaviors, their attitudes go into hiber
nation. Denied verbal expression, those attitudes
sometimes surface later, and more violently, much as
long-pent up pressure produces a volcano.
Allowed to see daylight, however, these attitudes
come out over time and thus avoid reaching critical
mass. The culturally sensitive then have the chance
to approach the prejudiced, engage them in discus
sion, and hopefully, positively influence their views.
In lieu of blind allegiance to and propagation of
inclusiveness and political correctness, we should
engage the Boy Scouts.
Attacking the organization and bringing every
conceivable legal response will only isolate the
group and not produce change. The truly tolerant
understand that inclusiveness is a two-way street;
while we work to expand what we know to be right,
we must understand and even allow the intolerant
to peacefully coexist.
Adam Collett is an educational administration
rking on TG's sysW’i
nssess, develop, and
-ons and public relali 5 ’
mmunication prcxW 1
Dlementation, and
the following soured
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irmative Action/
portunity Employer
MAIL CALL
rticle misses true
nportance of rally
Though I am impressed that
mething as controversial and
beral” as the pro-choice rally
ide front page of The Battalion, I
i disappointed in the coverage.
As a member of NOW and a
rticipant in the rally I must say
e rally was so much more than
o-Bryan Planned Parenthood. I
alize this is an important issue
dngBryan-College Station and
is campus, but it is not the only
•ortion issue. Melaney Linton,
)m Planned Parenthood, spoke
r about twenty minutes of a
three-hour rally.
The speech she gave was won
derful, but other things went on at
this rally.
There was no mention in the ar
ticle of the march around campus,
the heartfelt testimonials given by
friends and relatives of women
who have chosen abortion, the
personal essays from students
about why they are pro-choice, or
of the horrible stories from doctors
treating women who have had
botched, painful, illegal abortions.
I think The Battalion missed the
heart of this rally. It was a gathering
of young women and men sharing
thoughts, feelings, and informa
tion, defending their freedom, de
fending a women’s right to choose.
Jennifer Woodson
Class of’01
Silver Taps anniversary
truly honors tradition
On April 7, we celebrated the
100th anniversary of Silver Taps. I
have to say that during my four
years, you cannot distinguish be
tween ceremonies, but that night’s
hit me the hardest.
As a kid, I remember hearing
stories of how no one would talk
until morning after a Silver Taps.
But in years past, the lights that
stayed on in the breezeway of the
MSC have taken that away. I hear
people talking all the time. Well,
for the first time since I have been
here, the lights were off, and I felt
like we truly were honoring the
tradition of Silver Taps. I would
like to thank the Traditions Coun
cil and all other groups involved
for making that possible. As I
come closer to graduation in May,
I feel the Aggie Spirit just hit me
closer than it ever has. Now if we
can just get rid of those trains.
Keep the tradition alive.
Sammy Mobarak
Class of’98
The Battalion encourages letters to the ed
itor. Letters must be 300 words or less and in
clude the author’s name, class, and phone
number.
The opinion editor reserves the right to edit
letters for length, style, and accuracy. Letters
may be submitted in person at 013 Reed Mc
Donald with a valid student ID. Letters may also
be mailed to:
The Battalion - Mail Call
013 Reed McDonald
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-1101
Resurrection Week serves as a
reminder of religion's forgiveness
April
Towery
columnist
I sin. I sin
every day.
I’ve lied,
cheated and
stolen. But
I’m going to
heaven be
cause of the
resurrection
of Christ.
Some call
me a bad Ag.
Some call me
a hypocrite.
Others call me human.
By grace I have been saved.
When Jesus died on the cross,
he saved us from our sins. And
then, three days after his cruci
fixion, Jesus rose again.
“I am the Living One; I was
dead, and behold I am alive for
ever and ever!” — Revelation
1:18
Taking advantage of the sac
rifice Jesus made for us is as
simple as having faith and be
lieving that he died on the cross
and is alive today.
Going to McDonalds doesn’t
make you a hamburger; like
wise, going to church doesn’t
make you a Christian.
And Jesus Christ does not dis
criminate. He is not concerned
with one’s background or past.
“As far as the east is from the
west, so far has he removed our
sins from us.” —Psalm 103:12
Everyone is invited to accept
the salvation and admittance to
heaven that Christ offers us. We
don’t have to impress him with
our worldly deeds; they will nev
er be enough. All we have to do
is R.S.V.P. to his invitation, so to
speak, and say that prayer to ac
cept Jesus Christ into our lives.
“The wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life
in Jesus Christ our Lord.” —
Romans 6:23
Because we are sinful crea
tures and we can never achieve
perfection, we are condemned
to death. But we are offered the
gift of life because Jesus Christ
died for us. We are given an op
tion: life or death.
“This day I call heaven and
earth as witnesses against you
that I have set before you life
and death, blessings and curses.
Now choose life ...” —
Deuteronomy 30:19
Okay, I can see the Mail Calls
already. People are wondering
how I can quote the Bible as a
valid source.
Do I believe everything I
read? No, of course not. But
that's where faith and convic
tion come into play.
People are arguing that they
don’t believe in God. Well, it’s
not about believing in God.
Satan believes in God. Satan
believes that there is a God who
exists in this world, but Satan
does not put his trust in God. It’s
all about faith.
I’m not here to sit in judg
ment. Being a Christian does
not make me perfect. It does not
make me better than anyone
else — Christian or non-Christ
ian. It does not prevent me from
sinning every single day.
But it does give me the assur
ance that I am saved and I am
forgiven.
We have all been given the
opportunity to accept Jesus
Christ into our lives.
“I am the resurrection and
the life. He who believes in me
will live, even though he dies;
and whoever lives and be
lieves in me will never die ...”
— John 11:25,26
Time is running out. Jesus
will come again, and everyone
on earth will spend eternity in
either heaven or hell. But our
choice must be made now. It is
literally a matter of life and
death. Will you R.S.V.P. to your
invitation?
April Towery is a junior
journalism major.
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