By Courtney Burkholder

You really can’t walk by a television these days without hearing something about the Democratic and Republican primaries.

Although we’ve been bombarded with the 2008 presidential race for the past 18 months, it’s been since the New Year that the media has really stepped up their coverage. Unless there is a tiger attack, a titillating murder, a Britney Spears fiasco, or something negative to report in Iraq, the media can’t really come up with much else to report. We’re stuck with politics!

So what do your kids really know about politics? Do they understand how the United States government works? Do they recognize words like liberal and conservative? Democrat and Republican? Do they have any clue as to the philosophies these parties represent or the fundamental differences between them? And on that note, do you? Tackling this sensitive subject with our children is sticky business, but hugely important. So let’s get down and dirty and talk about the issues.

In some ways, politics is like religion. Most of us were raised with certain beliefs and biases. As parents, we want to share our beliefs with our children. My husband and I work hard every day to raise happy, healthy Christian young men. Our faith is hugely important to us, and we strive to teach our children the importance of Christianity in their lives.

But we also teach them religious tolerance. Everyone doesn’t believe what we believe, but God calls for us to love everyone, and that is what we try to do. I believe it should be this way with politics, too. Of course you want to teach your children your own political beliefs. Just make sure you teach them WHY you support the candidates or party that you do. And teach them what others believe as well. Even more important, teach your children to respect others opinions.

I don’t know why this is so difficult for some people. In America, it seems that religious tolerance is easier for some parents to train than political tolerance. Did you know that in grade schools all over the country, on Election Day, children cast their votes for President of the United States? Answer this question: How do kids make that decision? What is the basis for their vote? Is it because of whom their friends or teachers are supporting? I don’t think so. I think the majority of them vote based on what they hear at home. So parents, your job is hugely important.

Political tolerance begins at home. Children certainly won’t learn it by what they see on television. Personally, I don’t care whether my children grow up to be Republicans, Democrats, or Independents, as long as they know why they support the candidates that they support and as long as they exercise political tolerance for people who believe differently than they do.

If I can raise my children to be independent thinkers, who look at all sides of an issue and make up their own minds as to which side of the fence they choose to reside, I will consider it a job well done. I have friends with fading “W” stickers, and friends with shiny new Hillary stickers on their cars. I love them equally, and I would never let political beliefs come between friendships.