Nowadays, it is a challenge to watch television with your
kids.
I would like to share my conversation with my son in the backdrop of the presidential primary elections.
Son: Acha(means Daddy). I don’t want Trump to win
Me: what makes you say so?
Son: If he wins, my friend Aman has to leave America.
Me: Who said that to him?
Son: His mom. Acha, are we also Muslims? I heard all brown
skin people are Muslims
Even though we never talk about religion at home, I was surprised
to hear that.
Son: Acha, why did that beautiful lady marry Trump. He is always
angry and shouting at people
Me: Maybe, it is because he is very successful and rich
Son: Acha, didn’t you say if I study well and become
successful, I would be always happy. Why is Trump not happy even though he is successful
and rich?
Me: he says, he is unhappy with what is going on in this
country
Son: does that mean even if one is successful, he may not be
happy
Me: I
don’t know son.
Son: Acha, Trump, and Hillary are good friends
Me: How do you know?
Son: Arjun told me. They both live in New York and their daughters
are good friends
Me: Maybe
Son: In that case, why are they both fighting each other?
Me: It is for the Presidential post
Son: No Acha, they are calling each other names. Didn’t you
say that friends should not call each other names?
Me: I don’t
know son
Son: Acha, will Trump really throw Aman and our family out
Me: No son. He is just saying for winning elections. It is
politics
Son: Acha, Are politics and telling lies the same?
Me: I don’t
know son
Son: Are the people opposing Trump nice?
Me: They are good and bad people in both sides
Son: Acha, The people opposing Trump are throwing punches. Are
they bad people?
Me: I
don’t know son
My daughter Ammu joined the conversation
Ammu: Acha, I love Obama
Me: What made you say so?
Ammu: He smiles all the time
Son: Acha, didn’t Trump say Obama is a socialist. Does that
make him bad?
Me: I don’t know son
Son: Acha, I am confused. What you said about being successful, having friends,
being honest, being nice. Will it all change when one grows up?
Me: I don’t
know son
