<p>Are children's political opinions an echo of those espoused by their parents?</p>
<p>It’s true that parents are one of, if not the most influential people to their children in their developing years. They tend to imitate their parents actions and speech, which is why parents always have to ensure that they become a respectable example in the eyes of their children. Thus, I believe that the children’s political opinions are an echo of their beliefs. </p>
<p>In Malaysia, the whole concept of recycling waste is a fairly new one. The country itself never established rules to keep it’s surrounding clean which influenced the people to think that their rubbish could be thrown virtually anywhere around them. As this consensus was passed on from generation to generation, it seems difficult for the people to adopt the habit of recycling and saving the environment. In the children’s perspective, as they are bound to follow whatever is displayed in front of them, they mimic the unhealthy nature of the Malaysians and continue to pollute their environment. Had the Malaysian people been educated earlier about recycling, their country could have been cleaner than it is today. However, on a positive note, due to the ongoing campaign to go ‘green’ within the country, more people exposed to this new idea with the children being positively influenced accordingly. </p>
<p>Similarly in North Korea where all the people are brainwashed to serve their leader Kim Jung En as god, the children are forced to believe what their parents follow. AS the country shuts down any sort of communication from the outside world, the people are left to assume that the words of their general are entirely true. As a result, the children’s beliefs will mirror their parents’ beliefs, which would continue on for the future generations too. </p>
<p>Such examples prove that the children’s opinions are parallel to their parents’ beliefs. As they are young and naïve, the things they confront in their early lives will shape them. Whether what they follow is good or not, I believe the parents are completely responsible for what their children believe in. </p>