See my article on the Convention here: http://bit.ly/2ewuzbI
In February 1993, President Clinton signed an international treaty known as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It extended to children a host of privileges, including freedom of association, freedom of access to information (of all sorts, without restriction), and, in essence, freedom from punishment.
Needless to say, the document sent me into apoplexy. Thankfully, it was immediately assigned to legislative limbo by Sen. Jesse Helms. Nevertheless, needing desperately to funnel my ire into something creative, I sat down and wrote a counter-document titled "Rosemond's Bill of Rights for Children."
I subsequently published it on my Web site and in my quarterly magazine, "Traditional Parent."
In recent months, noting that most American children are clearly being denied the benefits set forth in that historic document, numerous folks have requested that I reprint the "Bill of Rights" in this column. So, in memory of civilized behavior, and with the hope it can be salvaged from the slag-heap of "self-esteem," here are a child's real and only rights, according to yours truly:
Article One: Because it is the most character-building word in the English language, children have the right to hear their parents say "No" at least three times a day, every day.
Article Two: Children have the right to find out early in their lives that their parents don't exist to make them happy, but to offer them the opportunity to learn the skills they - the children - need to eventually make themselves happy.
Article Three: Children have a right to scream all they want over the decisions their parents make, albeit their parents have the right to confine said screaming to certain isolated areas of their homes.
Article Four: Children have the right to find out early that their parents care deeply for them but don't give a hoot what their children think about them at any given moment in time.
Article Five: Because it is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, children have the right to hear their parents say "Because I said so" on a regular and frequent basis.
Article Six: Because it is the most character-building activity a child can engage in within the four walls of his/her home, children have the right to share significantly in household chores.
Article Seven: Every child has the right to discover early in life that he/she isn't the center of the universe, that he/she isn't the Second Coming, and that he/she isn't even - in the overall scheme of things, and in strictly earthly terms - very important at all (no one is) so as to prevent him/her from becoming an insufferable brat. (Note: How about that Sasha Cohen, anyway?)
Article Eight: Children have the right to learn to be grateful for what they receive; therefore, they have the right to receive all that they truly need and very little that they simply want.
Article Nine: Children have the right to learn early in their lives that obedience to legitimate authority is not optional, that there are consequences for disobedience, and that said consequences are memorable and therefore persuasive.
Article Ten: Every child has the right to parents who love him/her enough to make sure he/she enjoys all of the above rights.
Postscript: Convinced it was my duty as a patriot, I have suggested to the Office of Homeland Security that children whose parents deny them one or more of the above rights can reasonably be classified as "explosive devices" and should not be allowed in airports or other public buildings. Brat screeners ("Sorry, ma'am, but we're going to have to confiscate that child").
What a concept!
