Tiger Mother or Last Cry of a Dinosaur?

All the press that Amy Chua's latest book, The Battle Hymn of a Tiger Mother has received is very revealing about the state of affairs in parenting these days.  It's also very revealing about the power that the big publishing companies have over the media.

Within 48 hours I read no less than six reviews from major  news sources.  Can the vision this book champions, really be that important?  Well, yes, but not for the reasons intended.  The book is being called controversial for the slant on obsessive goal-oriented parenting it portrays.  The author, a Chinese-American professor at Harvard in a self-congratulatory  autobiography, sadly believes that she is relating a story of what it takes to be a successful parent. 


What in fact is communicated is the essence of everything that has gone haywire and off-course in our educational system.  What is communicated is the last cry of a dinosaur relentlessly trying to hold on to a system that has already collapsed.  The extensive media coverage that the book has attracted further reveals how desperately the system (educational, economic and governmental) is refusing to recognize the massive change that we are in the midst of.


The really good news that was revealed through all this is that there are a lot more of us out there moving forward with integrity from our heart, than the media powers that be and corporate rulers would have us believe.  How do I come to this conclusion?  By simply reading the comments following the reviews, hundreds of them.  Treasures of inspiration, of heartfelt messages from joyful loving parents whom understand that change is in the wind, and on the ground, and everywhere in fact.

Be clear on this:  We are on the verge of a revolution.  A revolution of thought, spirit and vision.  And those who are doing there best to resist the change, by necessity need to keep us separate.  Therefore our unification and mutual support is crucial.  And be clear on this as well:  Our revolution has nothing to do with tearing down or destruction, it is about creation, it is a quest that springs from the heart, that will require hard, devoted work and it is a revolution that begins with the way we teach and nurture our children.

We have moved beyond a two dimensional debate on parenting.  It is not a question of either imposing our will on our children or allowing them to do whatever they want.  It is a much deeper process.  And it is certainly not a process that can any longer afford to not be focused on nurturing children who have the ability to listen and the strength to act according to their heart.


In a nutshell, the current World crisis which is permeating every aspect of our lives is the result of a World culture that has emphasized material wealth over spiritual wealth.  It is the result of a World culture that has rewarded greed over compassion and equated success with economic gain.


Rather than designing an educational system that raises heroes, nurtures gifts, and manifests honorable, courageous beings, we have an educational system that is designed to sustain an operating system controlled, maintained and motivated by fear and greed.


The great news is that everything is about to change and we are the key masters.  We, the parents of the new frontier have the keys to the hearts of the future.  We have a great mission ahead of us and massive work to undertake.  Let's stay connected and get on it.