Nice words, but other people's stupidities, especially in the religious/ political realm, will sooner or later negatively influence *your* life as well. The very reason that you worry about dictatorships and such is *stupid people*.
In the case of
> parents and children, most people recognise that children are in fact
> remarkably resilient creatures. The idea of the brittle child is a false one
> promulgated by people with agendas of their own. This is why parents are
> given a modicum of leeway in the raising of their children, because
> ignorance is always something which can be rectified.
Yep, we surely do live in an enlightened world. Not! Either those kids *are* influenced by their parent's drivel, or they are just born stupid. What shall it be?