Childish Questions

(Y)our children will ask. Because didn’t we also consider these questions when learning of our history? About colonization, slavery, the Trail of Tears, Nazi Germany, the 1960s Civil Rights Movement?

First, they’ll ask: What happened?

Which is to say—What is slavery? What is genocide? What is oppression?

Then: Why?

Specifically—why did they do that to them?

(Y)our children might shuffle in their place, ponder in silence about what kind of person you are, before asking: What did you do?

What they’re really asking is what kind of person are you now in 2025.

Would you tell (y)our children the truth? Would you lie? Would you tell them to stop asking so many goddamned questions?

Time will pass, months, years, even decades should we be so lucky. Living in the aftermath of profit over people, comfort over justice, they’ll wonder: When did things change forever? Did you know?

Maybe none of these questions will be asked, because they know asking—starting any type of dialogue with you—is futile. If that’s the unfortunate truth for (y)our child, they’ll still consider, amid your silence and denial: Why didn’t they—meaning you and I—do anything?

So—What are you doing now? What are you allowing? What kind of world are you building for (y)our children?

Keep this in mind. (Y)our children are watching. Then, (y)our children will ask.