Modern Parenting

I've got business to take care of, so you're on your own for a while.
But before I go, I want to share this story with you:

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) - Normally, a fight between two children over a pacifier might be resolved by their mothers. But in Pawtucket, the police had to step in.

It all started Monday afternoon, when a 6-year-old boy dropped a pacifier. Another 6-year-old boy picked it up and refused to give it back, allegedly prompting the first child to deliver a punch. Police said the boy with the pacifier then punched back.

Pawtucket Police Detective Donti Rosciti said one of the mothers called police, saying she wanted the fist fight documented because her son had three minor scratches on his face, and she didn't want his school accusing her of abuse.

A patrolman wrote up a report, then went to the home of the other child to speak with his parents, Rosciti said. He called the case very unusual. "I've never seen a report with two kids this young," he said.

Rosciti said that as far as police are concerned, the matter is over. "A 6-year-old can't be held criminally responsible," he said.

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For a second, just skip over the fact that we're talking about two SIX YEAR-OLDS fighting over a pacifier, and that one SIX YEAR-OLD punched the other SIX YEAR-OLD in the face over a pacifier, and that the mother of one had to call the police to protect herself from being accused of child abuse by her son's school, and you're left with this golden nugget:

"A 6-year-old can't be held criminally responsible."

Perhaps the only actors in this entire drama entitled to such deference.

There's a political allegory lurking here.
But I'll be damned if I'm going to go that route.