Soldier Bunnies, Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy
My company Cherry Tree publishes American values-based children’s books. One of our series, called Special Hops, focuses on a team of soldier rabbits that protect farmyard animals. These adorable-but-tough rabbits raised a few eyebrows. In one of the stories, Operation Rocky Freedom, we teach children the theme of encouraging worldwide democracy and helping the oppressed.
This illustrated kids book is indeed a positive allegory of the Iraq War, but it is so much more. It is meant to distill a core American value, that of freedom being a human right. In a post-isolationist America, foreign policy is no longer a Left versus Right issue. The official goals of the U.S. Department of State are, “to create a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community."
This speaks to not only the policies of the Bush administration at the beginning of the 21st century, but also the policies of Woodrow Wilson (a progressive Democrat) during World War I, and Abraham Lincoln (the first Republican) during the Civil War. In fact, these three presidents held the same (or very similar) views of the United States’ duty. In the Declaration of Independence, we sought to form a nation based on the premise that all men are created equal. Our foreign policy is based on this premise, that freedom is a human right (via our creator or via nature) and, therefore, the United States’ duty to protect that freedom.
This is indeed an abstract concept. That’s why we created soldier bunnies; to help children begin to grasp the principles this country stands for.
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Sep '11
Re: Soldier Bunnies, Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy
It would be wonderful if we could give other children and other lands freedom, but it isn't clear that is possible. The main role of the military and U.S. Government should be to protect the U.S.
Jul '11
Re: Soldier Bunnies, Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy
I'll be surprised if by the end of this century our citizens, if we have a country, are not more concerned with how to find water and food than battling for freedom in Equatorial Guinea. Maybe I'm wrong, we'll see how it plays out, but I think wars and mass starvation is the norm in the future and our country won't make a difference at all. Good thing I don't write kids books, they'd be closer to the Hunger Games.
May '11
Re: Soldier Bunnies, Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy
Irrespective of the relative merits of Special Hops, it seems just a bit too much of a Captain Planet-type thing for me. After all, the old teacher's maxim is "We're here to teach you how to think, not what to think" (or something along those lines). And yes, the liberals and statists and anti-Americans do do it through the public schools and other, but it's a rather unseemly to involve young kids in political debates. As many on the right point out when the teacher's unions bring eight-year-old students to protest marches, the kids are just being set up for glib demagogues in the future. While I'm not opposed to instilling moral values, "Operation Rocky Freedom", seems to take it too far.
Edited on April 23, 2012 at 4:34amApr '11
Re: Soldier Bunnies, Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy
Alainnah Robertson: Palaeologus - Dave Carter:
Of course, you are both correct that dictators are not a pretty sight, and that the States has to act in its own best interests. This is understandable.
What is not so understandable is why the States thinks it has the right to impose its values on other nations, without being asked. · 34 minutes ago
When has America ever done that? To go through Kessler's examples again, do you think that there were no Americans in the South begging for Union protection? In the First World War, were your Scottish and Canadian compatriots quiet about their hopes that America rescued us (or does it need to be the Germans asking?) In Iraq, do you think that the Kurds, the Shia victims of genocide in the South, the Kuwaitis living under threats of various horrors, the Marsh Arabs, and other dissidents didn't howl their pleas for aid?
I can think of only three examples of significant conflicts (ie. not Perdicaris, Iranian hostage rescues etc.): the War of Independence; the Barbary wars; and Pershing's expedition. Where America has acted purely in her own defense, she has not waited for outside approval.
Apr '11
Re: Soldier Bunnies, Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy
When you're talking to 8 year olds, it's maybe more helpful to teach them how to think about political issues than to teach them the stances that they should take. When I helping raise a three year old, damn straight I told her what to think. She said "thank you for making the world a better place" to Americans who had earned her appreciation and she said the pledge of allegiance when she got to kindergarten.
I can't even begin to imagine how I would have given her the ability to choose a position on those issues for herself. How could I have asked her to weigh terrorism against governmental rape and forced starvation?
May '10
Re: Soldier Bunnies, Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy
Maybe we shouldn't sacrifice the good for the perfect. I thank you Mr. Kessler for taking on this challenge. There is a vast void to be filled. I will check out your site...I have four kids ages 2 to 9 :) Best of luck!
Jul '11
Re: Soldier Bunnies, Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy
Put me down on the side of thinking these books are a good thing. A children's book that packages traditional American values and instills them in our youth is fine with me. A book that shows our military in a favorable light and the good our soldiers do packaged so children can understand makes perfect sense.
Jul '11
Re: Soldier Bunnies, Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy
@Alainnah Robertson #9: Well if any of those situations should occur I would want as many soldier bunnies around as possible. It might even be that the reason these things do not occur is because of the soldier bunnies we do have.
Jul '11
Re: Soldier Bunnies, Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy
@DocJay #22: wo dude, I thought I was grim and cynical, but you got me beat. How do you get up in the morning?
May '11
Re: Soldier Bunnies, Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy
James Of England
I can't even begin to imagine how I would have given her the ability to choose a position on those issues for herself. How could I have asked her to weigh terrorism against governmental rape and forced starvation? · 8 hours agoWhen you're talking to 8 year olds, it's maybe more helpful to teach them how to think about political issues than to teach them the stances that they should take. When I helping raise a three year old, damn straight I told her what to think. She said "thank you for making the world a better place" to Americans who had earned her appreciation and she said the pledge of allegiance when she got to kindergarten.
My point was that from Mr. Kessler's post the book seems to go beyond trying to teach values like patriotism and supporting the troops and went into the realm of politics. 'Operation Rocky Freedom', 'Operation Iraqi Freedom'. "Support our troops"isn't necessarily the same thing as "support the war in Iraq", and from Mr. Kessler's post it seems the book leans more to the latter.
Feb '11
Re: Soldier Bunnies, Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy
I absolutely concur that teaching our children that the sacrifices our military people make and the jobs our military people do is important to our nation as a whole.
I also believe that teaching children that our history is unique is essential -- that the many "presidents" around the world are not the same kind of "president" as we have here in the States, and that the ideas of equality before the law and natural rights that the State does not grant but rather protects are anathema in many countries.
To read accounts of the Revolutionary War, and hear about soldiers boiling leather for something to eat, and George Washington grieving for his poorly equipped soldiers ("You might have tracked the men to Valley Forge by the blood of their feet"), or learning about the Bataan peninsula and the desperate fighting that went on there, seems to make history come alive plenty for my students.
And I am glad, Mr. Kessler, that you are proud of Tex. I am glad you are making the effort both to create and market a new product about which you are excited (go capitalism and entrepreneurship!) and to promote values to strengthen our body politic.
Edited on April 23, 2012 at 4:24pmFeb '11
Re: Soldier Bunnies, Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy
Have you read Robert Ferrigno's books? I should have asked tabula rasa to include these on the dystopia series.
Apr '11
Re: Soldier Bunnies, Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy
Dan
My point was that from Mr. Kessler's post the book seems to go beyond trying to teach values like patriotism and supporting the troops and went into the realm of politics...... "Support our troops"isn't necessarily the same thing as "support the war in Iraq", and from Mr. Kessler's post it seems the book leans more to the latter.
So you think it's good to tell your kids what to think, rather than how to think, when the content is "soldiers are good people and keep us safe"? But when the content is "soldiers are good people who protect the vulnerable from abuse and keep us safe", that's bad? Does the controversy over States Rights mean that it's bad to tell kids that Lincoln was a good man because he fought and won the Civil War?
"We are enormously privileged, and we should work hard to be the best that we can be so that we can help others less fortunate than ourselves" is one of the key lessons I worked to impart, and intend to with my own kids. I expect that to be a lesson of Rocky Freedom.
Jul '11
Re: Soldier Bunnies, Freedom and U.S. Foreign Policy
Fake John Galt, the answer how I get up is prayer. Also I'm once again reading the Chronicles of Narnia to kids, but the younger batch, and their enthrallment is a joy.