"If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children [and] we must become the change we want to see in the world."

Gandhi's appeal for peace is based on a well known, self-evident, truth. He understood that the social and moral environment parents surround their child with is the strongest, natural influence for change in any society. Whether a child becomes a responsible contributing citizen of society-or the opposite-can usually be traced to the power of parental influence.

America's 2008 presidential campaign stressed the need for parents to use this power. Months before being tapped as a vice presidential candidate, Alaska's Governor Sarah Palin noted in her State of the State address, "Every child, of every ability, is to be cherished and loved and taught. Every child provides this world hope. They are the most beautiful ingredient in our sometimes muddied-up world." ¹

President Barack Obama noted, "Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives, we are reminded today that family is the most important. And, we are called to recognize and honor how critical every father is to that foundation. They are teachers and coaches. They are mentors and role models... but if we are honest with ourselves, we'll admit that too many fathers are... missing from too many lives and too many homes. They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And, the foundations of our families are weaker because of it." ²

Governor Palin recognizes that our children give us hope for the future, and President Obama clearly addresses the need for parents, especially fathers, to step up their efforts to teach and mentor the rising generation. When parents decide to actively teach their children to be nobler, more productive, better people, amazing things begin to happen.

The need for this change is underscored by the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study undertaken by Princeton and Columbia Universities. ³ Beginning in 1998, this multi-year, ongoing study was undertaken because children are considered a public resource and major changes in the normal living arrangements for children are of public concern. The study focused on "fragile families," defined as young, unmarried couples having children. These family units, frequently led by a single mother, are often poverty-stricken-which isn't a desired environment for children. Also, these families are the greatest recipients of governmental welfare programs.

In fact, an analysis of government anti-poverty, criminal justice, and education programs shows that the significant increase of fragile families and family fragmentation costs U.S. taxpayers at least $112 billion every year, not including the horrendous social costs flowing from family disintegration. ⁴

Children are indeed our future. For them to change the coarseness, contempt, and hate so prevalent in today's society; for them to better themselves, their economic situation, and their communities, today's parents must begin with the children. To weave ideals like universal, noble virtues, values, principles and common civility into the fabric of their children's lives, parents must step forward and teach their children these ideals while the children are still young-beginning no later than the age of two.