Editorial July 23, 2001 Issue

No need to swallow your tears

Heloisa Rivas

Suppressing tears doesn't solve the problem. Whatever caused them needs to be dealt with, and the sorrow wiped away.

When I was growing up in Brazil, children were often told to swallow their tears. Crying was considered either weakness or bad manners. Unfair, isn't it? Don't children—as well as adults—need comfort when they are sad? What do we gain by swallowing our tears or hiding our sadness? Society sometimes demands that people cover up their feelings and give an exterior appearance of happiness. Or bravery.

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