Equality With Adults and Children

Honorable Mention Winner, Child Category

By Nolwen Cifuentes (age 10)
[email protected]

Special to The Libertarian Enterprise

         People talk normally to adults, but lots of adults belittle children in different ways without realizing it. To us kids, who don't feel like toddlers anymore, it is not fair! We want to be talked to normally. Sometimes, I think adults who use a high pitch to talk to us sound strange. They tighten their voice and talk very high! I don't like people who talk like that to me, even if they are nice, it makes me feel small. I do not want to seem strange when I am grown! People who talk simply with their normal voice make us feel equal. However, I don't want children not to like me when I am an adult! I would be upset if they feel bad because of my attitude. Neither would I like it if they laugh at me behind my back! I don't want children to feel small, it isn't fair!
         How come adults feel that they can say unpleasant things to children that they would never say to adults regarding their size or height ? If I would say to a fat lady how fat I think she is, I would be considered impolite and rude! But some adults don't hesitate to remind me how tiny I am for my age, like it is going to change anything! This hurts my feelings. Little people might be little but they have big feelings too! When I am invited somewhere, I've never seen the host forcing my mom to eat, but strangely the host doesn't have the same attitude toward me! "At least try it!" she says. But she is not my mother! I just don't like to try new things that look suspicious.
         When the host and my mom talk together, if I interrupt, I would be scolded. But if I am playing a game with my friend, it is totally all right if an adult interrupts it. They shouldn't interrupt our games! This is important for us. Courtesy rules should be practiced in two ways. This would be more democratic.
         We should all be talked normally to. When I am an adult, I want to remember these feelings. This way I will not repeat the pattern. It is not fair if adults do not respect us, but expect respect in return! We don't like it!
         Next time a lady tells me I am tiny she better not be fat or have a long nose! All we can do now is remember our feelings so we'll be able to talk to younger ones like responsible, important people and respect them!

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