The City of Picón (in Ciudad Real) has drafted a proposal for a Municipal Security and Coexistence Ordinance, according to which children they would have to ask permission to play in the street! As I have read, it would be explicitly forbidden to play with wheel toys (skates, skateboards, bicycles) and balls ... but it is also that the Ordinance will include the prohibition of actions that attempt against coexistence as logical as spitting, urinating in the street; and as 'absurd' as climbing trees.
I say absurd (and forgive the consistory of Picón), because normally it does not occur to adults to climb trees, that is, we do not lack, but the ability is not the same as during childhood, and therefore the children would be harmed again! I have read that this population has about 700 inhabitants, and I say that if a town of these dimensions where children can enjoy a vetoed freedom in the cities, does not let them play in the street, 'turn off and let's go'. It seems that to write the points that would be part of the Ordinance (currently in the allegations phase), they have copied from a model of the Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, often a model! It must be that somewhere someone has forgotten that playing is a right for children, right?
Imagine that you had to appear in the City Hall (or at the mayor's house if the municipal offices are closed) to ask permission for your children so they could play. I do not know if it is intended to discourage free play, because what I have clear is to disagree on the objective of 'correct certain behaviors'. Correct children's play ?. If even the inhabitants of Picón have been stunned!
This reminds me of a scene lived no more than two months ago in a place close to where I live: an adult (no more than 30 years) passed near where my son was with his friends doing children's things (climbing hillsides, discovering insects, do some mischief, hit the ball, you know) and the vision of creatures playing in freedom must have bothered him because he exclaimed 'they are here again playing the h ...!'. What would you have liked them to do? I wonder.
The ability of adults to forget our own childhood is very surprising, and as if it were a betrayal, point to children as annoying beings for others.
It makes me very funny when in the text we find that the 'reckless circulation' with skates on the sidewalks can be sanctioned. Let's see: children should keep in mind that pedestrians deserve respect, and will learn to be careful, but reckless driving? I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
The residents of the town fear that by force of copying and pasting, their authorities have forgotten about Picón's own idiosyncrasy, because laying on the balconies (to take advantage of the sun), putting pots on the windowsill, or climbing the olive tree to prune it (Yes, this could also be prohibited), they are part of the life of the neighbors.
Of course: these children's activities can be carried out in areas enabled for that purpose, but if it's about that, to isolate the children, because we could say it clearly. Because coexistence is learned by being all together and respecting each other by force of toleration, isn't it?
We now have to cross our fingers so that the example does not spread, and we have to see how the Rights of Children are severed without compassion. By the way, in case someone who lives in the city has doubts about the reasonableness of this future Ordinance, I have to comment that in the town where I live, and I know in most of the surroundings, children play with balls, skates, bicycles, or with what they want on the streets, and so far, no incidents have occurred.
