Kids Will Be Kids: A World War II Parable

Upon reading and becoming inspired by the works of Spencer Johnson and his profound parables that transcend race, gender, profession, time, and age, I chose to write a parable covering World War II. If George Orwell could create a masterpiece by making pigs of men, I figured even the feeblest of minds could make boys of countries. Often times less is more; whether in terms of orated speeches, presentations, books, or conversations. Did you know that Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address was only 273 words long? Or that Martin Luther King Jr.'s, “I have a Dream” speech was roughly sixteen minutes in length? Although lengthy, detailed books are of necessity for experts and those aspiring to be, the average person will simply neglect a 650-page book concerning World War II, or any singular event in history. Instead, with a society that places a premium on time, people want to receive information in a concise, insightful, and efficient manner. Hence, I attempted to achieve just that in this short story. By seeing World War II through the actions of school children within a schoolhouse, this book provides a parable/story that offers a fresh, unique, and profound way to look at the greatest catastrophe of the 20th century. First and foremost, the message of the book is reinforced by the title Kids Will Be Kids: A World War II Parable. It refers to the old adage that basically explains kids do what they do because that’s what they’ve always done. In other words, in the rudimentary sense, history repeats itself. Each character found within the pages of this book represents the involved nations and their actions during the melodrama of World War II. Each of these actions and their roles, subsequently, led to its start in September of 1939 and its eventual conclusion in August of 1945. Since the beginning of man, people have truly enjoyed listening to or reading stories. As we all know, stories provide powerful avenues to relay information; they create memorable and lasting impressions, stir emotions, and construct strong connections between a character and an event. I am passionate and have become convinced that those who read this book will draw the necessary connections to the past. As a history educator, the book offers a parable, where colleagues in the profession can use a different approach with their students to introduce or conclude World War II. It would be my greatest joy to have you enjoy this book immensely!