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| Yes | 19% | 15 votes | Total: 80 votes | |
| No | 81% | 65 votes |
Yes
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Add to FavoritesThe head of a country must be able to take charge and handle any crises that arise. The head of a family must do the same thing. If a person cannot control and care for his family, how can he do the same for the entire country? Children must learn to obey and behave. They can do so either in or out of the spotlight.
Many celebrities, politicians and royalty have had problems with their children as they grew up in the spotlight. If that situation in itself is bad, how does one explain child stars like Shirley Temple who was not only in the spotlight, but in the footlights from the time she could walk? Ms Temple was not only a household name at the age of 3, but grew up to be a fine, stable, and powerful politician in her own right.
The children of the president face the same things other children face but with the added pressure of being photographed each time they set foot outside. I watched John John and Carolyn Kennedy grow up in the spotlight. They were never hidden away or sheltered that I recall. The image of little John John saluting his father's casket will haunt the memory of every baby boomer forever. John John knew he was in the spotlight, even at that moment, but he never acted any differently than any other little boy.
The president's children should not be hidden away as if the parents are ashamed of them. Even if the intention is to shelter them, they may feel left out, especially during events with the public where there would be other children. Neither should they be paraded out as trophies, either during public events or state events. Parental common sense should prevail in both cases.
There will naturally be pressure from the press and public as the children are scrutinized for any absurd or inappropriate behavior in public. I recall watching the news as one state official was being sworn in while his pre-teen son (who should have known better) made faces during the entire swearing in ceremony, causing laughter in the crowd, and embarrassment for his father. If the president's children were prone to act as that boy, it would be entirely appropriate to "hide" them until a less solemn event.
While the children would naturally be a source of curiosity to the press and to the public alike, care must be taken to allow them time to be normal kids. If the right balance is achieved, the children should grow up unaffected by the extra attention.
Learn more about this author, Liane Laskoske.
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No
The president will certainly be in the spotlight. It's due to the huge responsibility carried on his shoulder. It's due to his capacity to win people's heart with promises and hopes that propelled him to the presidency, and the right to reside in White House with all the privileges.
What about the children? It's due to the capacity of their parents, not their own. They reserve the right to enjoy all the privileges of living in White House, but it should not be taken for granted. It's a by-product.
No hard feeling. Too much spotlight will translate into the same amount of burden and expectation. Are they ready to carry such a huge burden? The parents can, but what about the children?
With excessive expectation, the things that the children have done may not be enough to satisfy other people's expectation. It's becoming a "Always-coming-short Syndrome". Or, it may be the other way round: too easy to satisfy people on the surface. Although the children do little, people will not criticize them, especially when they have something to lose. The children will not receive proper feedback due to the influence their parents have.
If the children can play and learn without the world looking at them, they will grow naturally. They will have the freedom to make mistakes, ask questions and make choices. They will feel the satisfaction upon achieving something, knowing that they succeed on their own efforts, not because of the influence of their parents. People appreciate what they've done through intelligence and hardwork, not superior power possessed by their parents.
Most important thing is, they have the freedom to be themselves, not the president's children. It's important. It brings more pride to have people introduce them as they are, for their own achievements, not as the president's children. The fact that they are the children of a president should come later, after people know what they have personally carried out, not earlier when they haven't got the opportunity to show their worth to the world.
For education and growing the children, being out of the spotlight is also important. The children have to make their own way to stardom and power. The pride will be multifold when they eventually reach it and even go beyond.
In US history, examples have been set on father-son presidents, and grandfather-grandson presidents.
President John Adams had his son, John Quincy Adams, also rose to the presidency. It wasn't clear if President Adams Jr did better than his father. At least, his father was also known as the vice president of American's founding father: President George Washington.
President William Henry Harrison had his grandson, Benjamin Harrison, also rose to the presidency. President Benjamin Harrison certainly did much better than his grandfather, because his grandfather didn't have much time in White House. President William Henry Harrison only lived less than 40 days after being sworn-in as president, then died.
Modern history presented us with the tale of President George H. W. Bush and President George W. Bush. President Bush (Jr) did something his father couldn't: winning re-election.
John Quincy Adams, Benjamin Harrison and George W. Bush have something in common: they were out of spotlight during the father/grandfather's tenure as president. Therefore, they are able to make their own ways to White House. And the most important thing is: they are known for what they've personally done, not simply as the children/grandchildr en of someone who happened to be president of United States.
Learn more about this author, Artemis.
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