Everything I need to know

..about human nature I learned from my 2 year old. We think we're different but we're not. From the mightiest politician to the person cutting you off in traffic. We're all little children inside. We may not cry when we don't get our way but I've seen grown-ups throw temper tantrums.

With 2 year olds, at least I learned from the various magazines Calamity puts by my nightstand, their emotional restraints aren't fully developed. Any variation from how they've expected reality to be can set off emotions so raw they surprise everyone, including themselves. We're no different--we want our way. Or else.

We have elaborate societal structures put in place presumably to allow us all to live alongside each other in relative harmony. Yet daily I see conflict and strife. Someone didn't get their way and, instead of taking it like a man/woman/adult, they go running to the police/courts/media.

Everyone's the victim: no one's to blame. We have somehow been lulled into a sense of entitlement; bred to believe our profligate ways are our birthright. Trent Lott, former majority leader in the Senate, and well-known foe of trial lawyers, was quick to "lawyer up" when he realized his hurricane insurance policy wasn't gonna cover the loss of his beachside manor along the Mississippi Gulf Coast because there's a rising water exclusion. He isn't getting his way and he's mad mad mad.

Even our President, a failed businessman and no lover of lawyers either, assembled a small army of them to go to Florida in 2000 to make sure he got his way. Now, like a child caught red-handed, he can't reconcile reality with his inner 2 year old. He hasn't done anything wrong. Just keep doing things his way and the good times will continue.

Bernie Ebbers, Ken Lay, Scooter Libby. The list goes on and on.

God Almighty! Give me strength to endure this world of ill-begotten children. And keep my eyes open for those adults out there who will keep their heads up even in adversity, who will do what's right even if it doesn't further their own agenda, who will tell the truth and who will look upon others with wisdom and compassion.