Pray for the parents of Hong Kong. For the Colson Center, I'm John Stone Street with the Point.

Parents, educators, the church, and the state all play essential roles in a society,

but when the state goes bad, it can take down all the other spheres with it.

For example, according to a recent article in The Economist,

a struggle is underway for the hearts and minds of Hong Kong's children.

In August, the city's pro-democracy teachers union disbanded, following a government

crackdown which had called it a malignant tumor. Since then, curriculum now educates children

solely on the virtues of the Chinese Communist Party. Speaking out against those changes could lead

to life in prison. As a result, many parents have stopped talking about politics at home,

fearing their young children will say the wrong thing at school. Others continue to teach their kids democratic ideas at the risk of government retaliation,

and tens of thousands of residents are just leaving the city altogether. It's good that parents

in Hong Kong are aware enough to be concerned. We should be just as concerned here about the ideas

that can plague our children's hearts and minds.

For the Colson Center, I'm John Stone Street.