There's a quote from Buddha that's always stuck with me. "Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity."

He meant children, didn't he? As the best way of renewing humanity? They're our most precious resource. Because they're the future. What they learn now will become their tomorrow. Their world. And we have a chance to shape that. By teaching them to understand our history so they won't make the same mistakes we did.

The most important value I could teach my child? If I have the chance, I'll pass on to her the importance of compassion and responsibility. They go hand in hand, you know. Because everything we do in life has a consequence. Every word. Every step. Every action. Everything effects the world around us. Like a pebble tossed into a pond, rippling outward to touch other lives. Sometimes there's no telling how far those ripples will reach. Or who they will effect.

None of us asked for the world we were handed. Especially the children born to it since the Big Death. They weren't here to see it the way it was before everything went to hell. Struggle and hardship are all they remember. It's something they all share. Hopefully, it's something they'll want to prevent from ever happening again. That's their responsibility, to themselves as well as to future generations.