You ask your children everyday, not to hate. To treat  fellow people as an equal. Yet, the messages that are sent to them only reinforce the opposite. Destroy those who are different, and don't let them have what others do. Nowhere is this more glaring than the television commercials for Trix cereal.

Perhaps you've seen them. The formula for the stories are all the same. The Trix Rabbit, after countless failures, continually concocts wild schemes to disguise himself, maybe a magician or lion tamer, to amaze kids with wonderful tricks, and charm his way into their breakfast table. He doesn't want the whole box, he just wants a bowl. Of course, every time the Rabbit gets too close to these luscious Trix, he's overwhelmed by years of restraint and flips out, usually letting his big white ears pop out from his hat. The kids, realizing they've been tricked, take the cereal back and physically push the Rabbit away. They then laugh, "Sorry Rabbit, TRIX are for KIDS!!!", cackling away as the Rabbit once again walks away hungry.

It doesn't stop there. Other breakfast cereals do the same!

"Sorry, Barney, these FRUITY PEBBLES are mine!"

"Cookie Crook, your social class is too low for COOKIE CRISP!"

"HEY YOU STUPID LEPRECHAUN, NO LUCKY CHARMS FOR THE IRISH!!!"

Time and time again these messages of hate are pounded through the soft spots of children's minds.

Once in 1980, finally succumbing to the public's dissatisfaction with it all, General Mills decided to cash in on the election year, and featured commercials where the TRIX Rabbit might actually get a shot at his long desired bowl of goodness. On the back of every box was a ballot, encouraging the kids to vote:

It was a shining moment for our country because the kids overwhelmingly voted for the Rabbit. They even had a new commercial to commemorate the event. The Rabbit heard the results, and sat there teary-eyed, not knowing what he said. Why this was like Mandela getting freed from prison, The Berlin Wall coming down, the fall of The Soviet Union. He ate the bowl lovingly and quickly, overcome with joy. With a smile born of years of tolerance and servitude, he raised his spoon proudly, and asked for another bowl!

The kids looked at each other, allowing for an evil pause to creep along, then laughed...wickedly. "That's the only bowl for you, RABBIT... HA! HA! HA! HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!" Such a cruel and inhuman joke. Just like we promised the Indians there own land. Just like we promised 40 Acres and a mule to the Slaves. Taken right back!

Why are we afraid to eat at the same table as The Rabbit?

If we can't share our food with a cartoon, then what hope is there for our humanity?