In just the last couple weeks here in the Southeast there have been numerous news headlines involving gun violence and teenagers. This is very troubling.
Across the street from my house lived a 16 year old boy who was just charged with attempted murder. In a town close by another teen was turned in by his Aunt for having a pistol after she saw him post pictures of himself on Facebook holding the firearm. This boy was not using it for “sporting means”.
A quick Google News search for teenager shootings results in excess of 3,000 articles. It is really a shame. Why is this happening? Growing up in the 70′s and 80′s I would hear of a kid getting caught with a knife once in a while. That was a big deal! Today – kids are getting caught with bomb making material. Unreal.
Again – I have to ask “Why?”
I have a few thoughts on this and would like to know yours.
First – the breakdown of the family unit. The level of divorce and broken homes in this country has certainly degraded the upbringing of children over the last 20 years or so. I do not think that anyone could argue that a child is better off and stands a better chance to develop into a ”good person” if raised with both parents in the home – rather than the alternative. It is just common sense.
Second – the absence of “God” in school and in children’s lives fails to provide a moral basis for that child to grow with. I am not a very religious person – however I believe that a child brought up with a basic understanding of a higher power (God) and an accountability to that higher power (heaven versus hell) has an advantage over another child that is raised an atheist. I am not saying that a child raised absent of religion will not be a good person.
Next – there is significant desensitizing of today’s youth to violence. I can remember being about 12 years old the first time I saw the footage of President Kennedy getting shot. I was shocked to see something so unbelievably violent and cruel. Tears came to my eyes seeing something so horrible. Today – the amount of violence involved in today’s entertainment venue’s (video games, television, and movies) has to have a desensitizing effect. I do not see how it couldn’t. Now – I am not saying kids cannot play video games. I am saying they need to be in moderation and depending upon the child you have to judge what movies are allowed to be watched. Both my kids play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 – so let me be clear that I am not against video games.
Cartoons today are ridiculous. Growing up on Sesame Street, the Electric Company, and Speed Racer – watching some of these newer cartoons just disgusts me. The language is ridiculous and there is no purpose to half of the shows to start with. Beavis and Butthead was controversial in its day – many cartoons on now are not anybetter and kids are watching these for hours at a time. Change the channel!
People are an end result of their environment and experiences. All of these negative influences are just pieces to a puzzle that create who “you” are.
Well – there’s it my rant. I would like to hear what your thoughts are on the subject – please comment.
Take care all – Rourke
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11 Responses
First – I disagree. My husband died when my son was a baby and I don’t think growing up with an alcoholic dad would have made him a better person. The most off-the-rails kids I know come from intact families. Whether it’s one, two, or more people doing the parenting, I think the main issue is how they are doing it.
Second – another disagree. I’m agnostic and my son is compassionate, tolerant, and level-headed; more than can be said for many religious people.
Third – probably.
Fourth – agree. No Southpark in my house. Although there are some I enjoyed like Spongebob and Dexter’s Laboratory.
I think what I find most disturbing is the sense of entitlement so many young people have. That belief that they are owed a certain standard of living by society and that they don’t have to deal with consequences.
I think you’re right about this. I was also a kid of the 70′s and 80′s and see a significant difference. Today many adults, teachers, etc. are in fear of instilling any real discipline in children as well. Fear of law suits, social services, and just general public shame are always possible now. There has to be long term effects to a lack of consequences for bad behavior. When these children begin to act out, the type of consequences they seem to get are a bunch of psycho-babble statements that leave them even more confused. That coupled with a lack of love and attention can probably be a pretty dangerous mix for some kids.
Thanks for the comments Jen –
When I wrote that post I figured that I would hit a nerve with a single-parent. I would never say that a single parent (mother or father) could not raise the best kid in the world. I also would never suggest that a child raised in a non-religious household could not grow up to be a great kid.
All that I am suggesting – is that – in my honest opinion – the best case scenario to give a child the most opportunity to end up “great” is in a 2 parent family and having exposure to “God”. Of course I am not talking about a 2 parent disfunctional – alchoholic – abusive family.
The entitlement issue – absolutley and I can’t believe that didn’t enter my mind when writing the post.
Thanks! Rourke
Do you mean MORAL decay or a lowering of MORALE?
I meant moral –
Thanks!
Rourke
I think along your lines.
However we may have a chance to make some significant changes with the Tea Party movement which is largely a revolt of the normal people in our country. As the movement takes back the Republican party from current leaders we are going to see more challenges to a dictatorial government. It is in this that I harbor some hope for the future.
The one stumbling block I see is recovering from the disastrous economic policies that are endangering our country. Being prepared is the smart thing to do but organizing a solid political party that represents our Founding documents is the path to safety.
Rourke,
Keep safe, we’re still on the way down.
Jen,
A lot of kids with one parent or no dad in the home come out great (including my best friend). Statistically however I’m pretty sure those in such a situation are at much greater risk for getting into trouble.
Good kids are going to be good kids, even if they stumble a bit. It’s the kids that have a tendency to be troublemakers that are causing the problems. I remember as a kid that if you were naughty at school you’d go to the vice-principal for swats. Now, the bad kids rule the schools and the adults are too afraid to do anything because if they do they will be the ones paying the consequences.
Parents have done so much for their kids that the kids expect and demand that they get what they want when they want it. How many young children have cell phones and unlimited texting? How many kids spend more time watching tv or playing video games than playing outside? At our house we limit video games, tv, and computer time to weekends only with one hour per day per technology, with a limit of two technologies (usually video games and computer). I find when the kids go to their friends who have unlimited access to these things that they come home with a lousy attitude and a “you owe me” mentality.
I’ve done both single parenting and couple parenting. If the couple is functional, it is so much easier and better for the kids. It’s double the attention, and isn’t that what everyone needs? Attention. Usually the kids that cause the trouble aren’t hiking, camping, working, and just hanging out with their family.
You are my hero!!
Rourke
In the early 50′s I was making black powder and using it to make bottle bombs and pipe bombs. I even brought them to school and was caught. It is amazing I didn’t kill or maim myself. My most successful bomb was inadvertent after I began making rockets (using black powder as a repellent!). This one rocket was a pipe and instead of shooting off into the sky it blewup with the loudest explosion I have ever heard. Scared the crap out of the neighbors. I bought a 22 rifle at 16 and shot at anything that moved and most things that didn’t. The police brought me home to my parents because I was shooting and someone complained. But in the 50′s there was no internet, no FBI investigation, no place to build hype on top of hype. I was just another teenager. The thing is we hear everything today and this makes us believe all this stuff never happened before so why is it happening now?
I agree that kids and adults have been doing “bad stuff” for a long time, however I do believe that it has gotten worse over the last 20 years.
I think the media and the Internet feeds this moral decay – like oxygen feeds a fire. The kid across the street – I just found out he is now charged with murder. He killed someone on October 19th in a drug deal gone bad. 16 years old. I know this happens all over – and that doesn’t make it any better.
There are lots of kids who do questionable things as a youth – and grow up to be great fathers and husbands. No doubt there are reasons why dome do – and some do not.
Thanks – Rourke