Comments on: Blueberries

By: Justthisguy

Justthisguy — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:28:31 +0000

I did read the linked articles. I am of two (at least) minds about this. Traditionally, school is out for summer so that kids can do farm work. I don’t think it’s necessarily wrong for kids to do useful work which pays money. Maybe the dullness of the farm work will inspire them to pay attention when they go back to school, so as to learn skills which will allow them to do easier work for more money.

On the other hand, children are easily led, and are often led to do things which are against their long-term interests.

The child-labor laws were intended to prevent exploitation of children by people who would neglect their education for the sake of their easily-gotten labor. On the other hand, I think kids should be allowed to make money by labor, just like grownups. With more protection than grownups against exploitation, they being kids

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:05:04 +0000

It seems to me that most mainstream news coverage is meant either to make us afraid or to desensitive us into numbness. The story about the blueberry farm falls into the latter category. Its purpose is not to tell the story of the children or their families–because only the children and their families can tell their story–but to allow otherwise privileged people to have a moment of outrage, to feel that they care, and then to go about their lives feeling secure that they understand without having to ask any questions. When you’ve gotten someone to the point where they have no questions, you’ve really numbed them (and dumbed them down) considerably. Then, they’re ready for the next commercial break…

By: Look closer, part 3 -I don’t know « Sanabitur Anima Mea

Look closer, part 3 -I don’t know « Sanabitur Anima Mea — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:27:14 +0000

[…] And most of all, it is nobody’s job to make decisions on the value of other people’s freedom and lives based on guesses. […]