In the year 1997, the campaign for the disarmament of people in general was very strong in Brazil.

        In some places, the authorities chose to trade any kind of firearm or blade for groceries.

        The press approached the theme with debates on TV. Newspapers and magazines sought the opinion of their readers through questionnaires offering prizes, naturally emphasizing the issue of disarmament as a healthy measure for all society.

        At every moment, vented news brought up the dangers of weapons possession, informed about the penalties imposed to those who carried them illegally and the headlines indicated the first ones to suffer such penalties for having being caught carrying weapons without the proper permit.

        While this campaign was in course, gaining the sympathy of those who desire and plan to achieve peace in their own lives, one can observe, still today, a total lack of common sense concerning our children.

        Toys, imitating sophisticated weapons which populate the imagination of those who believe the Third Millennium will be the age of the great destruction since, according to them, we will master powerful energies, are readily commercialized and offered to the little ones.

        Many cartoons have not yet abandoned aggressiveness and fill the minds of the future men with stellar wars, powerful flying machines that conquer astronomical distances in seconds aiming to destroy the weaker  ones or the one who trespasses against his fellow creatures.

        Miniature heroes that literally wipe out the Universe of the human scum are offered to children.

        Their clothes, as costumes, decorate children’s birthday parties.

        In the name of peace, war and violence are preached. The good guy has the right to kill the bad guy, who is the bad element, undesirable and who should be cleansed forever from the environment he harms.

        With such attitudes, logically, the desired disarmament campaign will not be successful.

        We take away the weapons from the adults but distribute them largely to children.

        Every change needs solid foundations, and these foundations are found in education.

        By education, we mean the reformulation of characters. And, specifically in this case, of the children who will form the new and healthy society we wish.

        It is up to us to meditate on the matter and choose with better care the toys we give our children.

        One might say children crave those toys. But that is because we don’t give them other choices, allowing them to be attentive only to one side of the world.

        One might even say that they bring aggressiveness in themselves.

        That is exactly why parents and educators must take great care in polishing their positive qualities and offer them healthy toys which will contribute to the formation of their character, not stimulating their negative aspects.

*   *   *

        October 18th is the day dedicated to child disarmament.

        Coincidentally, it is also the day dedicated to physicians. This date was chosen because it is when Luke the Evangelist, who was a physician, is paid homage to.

        Both reminders are very convenient. Occurring once a year, they remind us that preserving life is very important.

        Such is the physician’s mission: to save lives. Such is the parents’ mission: to save immortal souls.

Spiritist Moment Team.
August 21 2008.