Centuries ago or even d
ecades ago to some extent, before capitalism and the growth of large cities, communities were close knitted. Everyone knew one another. Children would play outside their home or at neighbours home, or along streams and gardens. When someone passes by, they would greet each other and ask about the child's family. There would be smiles exchanged. W
hen a stranger from outside town comes by, the children would know. The older community members would know as well and would observe from afar, if not approach the person to find out courteously. This builds love in a child to know others care. This teaches the child to smile genuinely. This helps develop a sense of identity in the child thr
ough the people who love the child. This develops courage out of trust. The child learns that he/she is a valuable part of the society. People are happy to have the child and the child feels a sense of belonging. 
ecades ago to some extent, before capitalism and the growth of large cities, communities were close knitted. Everyone knew one another. Children would play outside their home or at neighbours home, or along streams and gardens. When someone passes by, they would greet each other and ask about the child's family. There would be smiles exchanged. W
hen a stranger from outside town comes by, the children would know. The older community members would know as well and would observe from afar, if not approach the person to find out courteously. This builds love in a child to know others care. This teaches the child to smile genuinely. This helps develop a sense of identity in the child thr
ough the people who love the child. This develops courage out of trust. The child learns that he/she is a valuable part of the society. People are happy to have the child and the child feels a sense of belonging. The advent of larg
e dense populated cities, see high rise apartments inhabited by hundreds of people who work long hours and seldom meet one another. The big cities attract migrants from other towns and its too hard for anyone to keep track of who is new and who is part of the community. Then, there are illegal immigrants or foreigners who do not have a sense of love for the community or may even har
bour an interest for crime. The ever increasing crime rates and brutality of crime creates fear and mistrust. Parents advise their children not to speak with strangers. The family seldom relaxes out in the open, but would rush out of their guarded homes into other safe territories. The child still learns to smile, but through watching commercials of beautiful people. The 
child learns to build a strong self-identity through achievements, and courage through self-defense and anger. The child becomes independent and adaptable, yet may sometimes lack understanding and empathy of others in the community.
e dense populated cities, see high rise apartments inhabited by hundreds of people who work long hours and seldom meet one another. The big cities attract migrants from other towns and its too hard for anyone to keep track of who is new and who is part of the community. Then, there are illegal immigrants or foreigners who do not have a sense of love for the community or may even har
bour an interest for crime. The ever increasing crime rates and brutality of crime creates fear and mistrust. Parents advise their children not to speak with strangers. The family seldom relaxes out in the open, but would rush out of their guarded homes into other safe territories. The child still learns to smile, but through watching commercials of beautiful people. The 
child learns to build a strong self-identity through achievements, and courage through self-defense and anger. The child becomes independent and adaptable, yet may sometimes lack understanding and empathy of others in the community.
There are varying degrees of safety, friendliness and community in different cities in different parts of the world. It is not necessary that large metropolitan cities are less ideal for bringing up children. I rate com
munity feeling by watching how strangers smile at Haruka on the streets and in the train. In Tokyo for instance, even when it is one of the largest metropolitan cities, there are many pockets of neighbourhoods everywhere that are less populated. Only during peak hours in trains, train stations and lifts, you would experience excessive crowding. Many elderly people on the streets would not hesitate to make a short remark of how cute Haruka is and smile. Same goes for London, a little less for Paris as most of the remarks were from tourist we bumped into during our travel. For Hong Kong, one has to select exclusive residential area
s like Discovery Bay where there are many open space and expats, else the quick and noisy lifestyle seem to drown the need to exchange pleasantries with strangers. In Malaysia, there is a community of very friendly people yet safety concerns has begun to inhibit such communities only within the confines of the homes of friends, churches, mosques, restaurants and hotel events. In New York, I read about a Spanish who was accustomed to his friendly community back home, played with a cute girl in a mall and was reprimanded by the mother who took the child away from his arms.
Have you as a stranger told a child, how smart or cute he or she is? Try it today.
munity feeling by watching how strangers smile at Haruka on the streets and in the train. In Tokyo for instance, even when it is one of the largest metropolitan cities, there are many pockets of neighbourhoods everywhere that are less populated. Only during peak hours in trains, train stations and lifts, you would experience excessive crowding. Many elderly people on the streets would not hesitate to make a short remark of how cute Haruka is and smile. Same goes for London, a little less for Paris as most of the remarks were from tourist we bumped into during our travel. For Hong Kong, one has to select exclusive residential area
s like Discovery Bay where there are many open space and expats, else the quick and noisy lifestyle seem to drown the need to exchange pleasantries with strangers. In Malaysia, there is a community of very friendly people yet safety concerns has begun to inhibit such communities only within the confines of the homes of friends, churches, mosques, restaurants and hotel events. In New York, I read about a Spanish who was accustomed to his friendly community back home, played with a cute girl in a mall and was reprimanded by the mother who took the child away from his arms.Though, these general examples do not do justice to the possibilities of how we can do our part to create communities. We can make it a point where practical, to trade pleasantries and smiles to other children. A friendly gesture can go a long way to build an esteem in a child towards love and hope. An observant eye towards crime can build confidence towards the efforts anyone can contribute towards a community.
Have you as a stranger told a child, how smart or cute he or she is? Try it today.
(Photos show Haruka at the aviary in Hong Kong park and more of the Hong Kong skyline).
No comments :
Post a Comment