I was reading an op-ed piece recently about efforts to impose child labor restrictions in various countries of the Third World, based on modern US sentiments on the subject. It set me thinking a bit. Of course abusive treatment of children in any form must be rejected through both social norms and The Law. But I can't help but see a certain hypocrisy in this, since child labor was an important part of America's own economic history. Much like slavery before it.

It's one thing for America to espouse the high ideals we've come to by way of our own rewarding struggles with some of the most difficult questions faced by Nations. It's another thing, though, to go war (and expect our Allies to join us in war) for what are essentially differences of opinion.

If a 12-year old is getting up to go to work because his family needs him to and he really wants to do it, why should we drop a missile on his country? Early experiences with hardwork and difficulty are often connected to significant achievements later in life. When you look into the personal histories of world leaders from yesteryear, you will find that many were very poor, that they stepped up and found courage in themselves to go out into the world well before most people do, to bring home the bacon for their families.

I would even go as far as to say that America could not be where it is today but for the efforts of its laboring children and its slaves. For us now to say to anyone "You can't do as we did..." is both hypocritical and, in my opinion, bourne out of a feeling of National insecurity and a desire to suppress POWER where we observe it appearing elsewhere in the world. Sorry, for the Sunday rant, but I am growing a little impatient with some money owed to me by a former boss who employed me when I was child.