The Silent Parasites: Ideological Infiltration of Child-Rearing and Education

Story in a Glance:

• Physical parasites are surprisingly common and cost the host their nutrients, energy and leave them with the job of disposing of their toxic wastes.

• Mind parasites are equally common but a lot more insidious, and can be recognised because they steal the energy of the host for their own enrichment without the host’s consent or fair compensation.

• Mind parasites not only infiltrate individuals but also communities. They can come in the form of a meme, belief, dogma or any other subconsciously-installed behaviour via advertising that has not passed the filter of choice (subliminal).

• Children who have not developed critical thinking are particularly susceptible to mind viruses and need to be protected by adults. Unfortunately, many homes are absent a father, which makes children more vulnerable.

• Mind viruses affect the individual by narrowing their life choices and encouraging dependent and fear-based thinking. This can lead to poor health, and a reliance on pharmaceuticals and welfare programmes.

• The solution is to avoid pushing dogma onto children but to encourage debate, open-mindedness, diverse opinions and critical thinking skills.
  

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Introduction:

Parasites, parasites, and more parasites! In my line of work, encountering cases of parasitic infections is a frequent occurrence. While we might have this idealized image of New Zealand as a parasite-free haven, the reality is quite different. Parasites are surprisingly prevalent in New Zealand. Our farmers are well aware of this, which is why you see so many commercials on our TV screens promoting animal drenches and solutions for the flea problems in our beloved cats and dogs. It's interesting, though, how many people tend to believe they're immune to parasitic infections, unless they travel abroad and spend time in a third-world country.

Think about this: Some parasites take control of their host, changing their behaviour to be beneficial for the invader. An example is toxoplasmosis that, it is said, encourages its host to commit suicide, or to be predated upon, preferably in a messy way, thus improving the transmission of the parasite to new hosts. Keep this in mind as you read this article.

What is a Parasite?

A parasite, in its simplest form, is an organism that is unable to thrive and reproduce by itself and seeks a host for its survival. Ideally, this host is unaware of the hijacking taking place. While the term "parasite" is often associated with the biological realm, it can also be applied metaphorically to human society, particularly when considering how individuals might unwittingly hand over their children to parasitic movements or ideologies.

I. Understanding Parasitism:

Biological Parasites: In the natural world, biological parasites depend on a host organism for their survival. They cannot reproduce independently and have evolved various mechanisms to exploit their hosts, often without the host's knowledge.

Metaphorical Parasites: Beyond the realm of biology, the concept of parasitism can be applied to ideas, beliefs, or movements that thrive by infiltrating the minds of individuals, much like a biological parasite infiltrates a host organism. Such mind parasites, by their nature, are evil since they thrive on division, isolation and conflict.

Naturally, unlike these mind parasites, we humans have an inherent desire for peace and a profound yearning to both love and be loved. We also have an innate drive to contribute value and be valued in return for our presence. As mammals, we rely on our caregivers, our mummy and daddy, our extended family, and our communities for nurturing and support.

II. The Human Host and Parasitic Movements:

"Openly" Hiding Among Us: The parasites that exist among us, including the warmongers, are not the general population but a small group detached from their humanity, who actively seek to exploit vulnerabilities in any living organism, including our children.

Unwitting Hosts: In the context of parasitic ideologies or movements, individuals may unwittingly become hosts when they are exposed to certain beliefs or teachings. Often, this happens in childhood when young minds are more impressionable and less critical (and an "open book").

"Give Me a Child Till He is Seven": The saying, "Give me a child until he is seven, and I will have him for life," exemplifies how certain ideologies or movements target children during their formative years. At this stage, individuals are highly susceptible to influence, and the ideas they encounter can shape their beliefs and values for a lifetime.

Infiltrating Child-Rearing and Education: These parasitic movements go a step further by infiltrating child-rearing and educational institutions. By doing so, they gain access to young, impressionable minds and subtly indoctrinate them (Where young minds can be easily indoctrinated away from the oversight of parents or guardians.) This is akin to a covert parasitic invasion into the very institutions responsible for nurturing the next generation. And if this seems far-fetched think of the indoctrination school policies of Nazi Youth, or North Korea, or the Red Guard of communist China.

The Dumbing Down of Education: Some individuals or groups may engineer the "dumbing down" of education for their own benefit, which could be seen as a form of intellectual parasitism. By promoting non-scientific, myths, or misleading narratives, they can exploit the ignorance and loss of discernment. This phenomenon is not unique to New Zealand but is a global concern.

Encouraging a society that values evidence-based education and critical thinking can help mitigate the impact of such parasitic tendencies on the spread of knowledge and information.

Preparing Future Generations for Accepting Parasitism: Throughout the 1990s and the early years of the new millennium, there was a notable surge in vampire-themed movies, along with TV shows like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," a series I never personally followed but which gained popularity among our youth. Others that come to mind are the Twilight Series and a spate of mini-series in the last two decades, such as True Blood, and the Vampire Diaries.

It can be argued that this pervasive exposure to messages of parasitism as acceptable, necessary, and even heroic has inadvertently (or perhaps by design) given rise to the emergence of a new generation of parents who find it challenging to recognise parasitic or predatory threats to their children. Like their Canaanite and Aztec counterparts who willingly gave their children up for sacrifice, some modern parents might likewise consider some parasitic ideologies as necessary for the greater good. While this might sound like a far-fetched or conspiratorial hypothesis, and unpleasant to even consider, history offers numerous instances of presumably well-intended parents offering up their children. Could we be witnessing a similar trend in our times?

III. The Role of Vigilant Parents and the Nuclear Family:

The Duty of Protection: Parents have a sacred duty to protect their children against all threats, both external and internal. This includes safeguarding them against the infiltration of parasitic ideologies that may compromise their wellbeing and future. Together, the mother and father make a formidable team.

Learning from the Nuclear Family: Children learn most from the behaviors and actions of their nuclear family and community. The traditional family structure, consisting of the mother and the father, along with their extended family, including elders, and community, provides a foundation for a child's values and beliefs. In this context, and in recognition of teamwork, perhaps one of the greatest weaknesses allowing parasitic infiltration is the absence of the father.

According to a 2023 report author Lindsay Mitchell says, "Last year one in twenty births had no father registered; one in six did not have a father living at the same address as the mother and almost one in five had parents with no stated legal relationship."

It is traditionally the duty of the man to protect his family, especially his children. An absent, weak, or distracted father is a breach of the family's usually impenetrable defences and leaves a child vulnerable to exploitation.

Fostering Critical Thinking: You can't instill critical thinking in young kids, there is a brain development that is not complete until their early twenties, that is why they need to be protected from dangerous ideologies. But you can teach communication skills, listening and debate, all of which become the basis for critical decision-making in adult-hood, and a strong sense of self and family. Parents equip them with the tools to evaluate ideas and belief critically, and to resist pressures to conform when it is not in their best interests. This empowers the younger generation to resist the influence of parasitic ideologies and discern whether they are truly in their best interest.

In contrast, one of the tactics employed by parasitic ideologies is to promote irrational thinking, suppress independent thought and encourage conformity. This undermines the development of critical thinking and strength of character, and makes children more susceptible to manipulation.

In conclusion:

The concept of a parasite, which relies on a host for its survival and often operates without the host's awareness, can be extended to human ideologies and movements. The idea that individuals might, with good intentions, inadvertently expose their children to parasitic beliefs is a thought-provoking one. Parents have a pivotal role in protecting their children against all threats, including those from within, and they must be forever vigilant in this regard.

Given the subtlety and stealthiness of parasitic ideologies, it is essential for parents to remain wary and discerning, especially because threats may initially appear to be most worthy of support when they are far from it. By fostering critical thinking, open dialogue, and respect for individual autonomy, we can work to prevent the spread of harmful ideologies and ensure that young minds are not unwittingly handed over to parasitic movements that seek to control their beliefs and values.

Recognising the infiltration of child-rearing and educational institutions and taking proactive measures to safeguard against it is an essential step in preserving the wellbeing and autonomy of the next generation. The traditional family structure, along with the presence of the father figure, plays a crucial role in protecting children against ideological exploitation, even as parasitic ideologies attempt to promote irrational thinking and suppress independent thought.

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