Advice for Young People
Sara, the kids and I visited family friend Federico Arcos this past weekend. Federico is a long-time member of the Spanish CNT and fought with the anarchist brigades during the Spanish Civil War. Later he was, for many years, a guerilla operating from the Pyrenees against Francisco Franco.
While we were visiting, Sara and I asked Federico what advice he had for young people. Particularly, we wanted to know if there was anything he thought we should be teaching our children. He suggested we teach them:
– to respect themselves and others
– to try to love everyone
– and to not let themselves be exploited
It is really sound advice. I suspect it forms the core of the moral code of a man who has taught me a great deal about what it means to dedicate one’s life to justice and the vision of a better world. It is also certainly the stuff I hope to pass on to my children. I was a little surprised when he offered it as a response to our question. It, after all, a pretty simple code.
