Dear America,
Lately I’ve been hearing a great deal of discussion in the media concerning the increase of violence and arrests dealing with our youth.
I will NOT insinuate that I have it all figured out, But I will speak from convictions of my own personal experiences. But I feel like I am compelled to share some insight which I believe will broaden your perception, hence, allowing you to see the simple answer to this complex question that our societies continue to ask in bewilderment regarding the violence and defiance of authority in today’s time.
See, for those who are shallow and feeble mined who are afraid of accepting the truth, it’s simple.
You see, it is ” US” who failed our youth.
I find it insane that there is never mention of our societies being at fault for teaching our children what they know today. Rather than using the same lame and ridiculous excuses of the violence depicted in video games, movies, and music, enticing the negative behavior of our youths, what we really need to do is take a good look at ourselves. Chances are we may notice changes we need to make in order to contribute positive role models for our youth to admire, manifesting a desire to follow.
America! We seem to have this fascination with death, hypocrisy, and immortality that we tend to glorify some of these same death, hypocrisy, and immortality, suffering, and demise, then forming these statistical studies which only further complicate matters by summoning up mathematical terms that have absolutely nothing to do with a solution to this dilemma – except locking our youths up and throwing away the key – which certainly now has become an epidemic. Now that the inevitable is occurring, our society is asking why and putting the blame on everything and anything other than ourselves.
America! Take a moment to ponder this!
Our children will do what they see, as opposed to what we tell them. When our politicians in whatever presidential administration lie, cheat, steal, and slander each other – then justify the unethical behavior with chicly presented rhetoric, conspiring in cover ups and formulating distractions which conveniently draw attention from their scandal. It’s evident that our children will develop a lack of respect for authority.
Plus, when mainstream media is consistently displaying actions of law enforcement using lethal force as their means of protecting and serving the communities; or when teachers at schools violate the law; and officials on Capitol Hill constantly contradict themselves by breaking their own laws; let me ask, what kind of examples is being set for our children?
America! We have created a culture within our society that promotes violence, rewards wrongdoing, make excuses, tells lies, manipulates truths, and glamorize scandals. And yet, we wonder why our youths have gone crazy.
There’s an old cliché that conveys ” If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything ” It’s time we reassessed that and take a step further by actually providing our children with something good and righteous to stand up for. Rather than just giving lip drip that amounts to nothing.
America! It’s time for us as parents, teachers, leaders to put our best foot forward and serve as more positive and productive role models so that we can start making a difference by teaching our children by way of examples ” WE” are proud of. It’s the concepts we teach, the principles we practice, the dignity and the integrity we support that will build our children’s strength in character; So yes, I’m indicating that the solution to this epidemic starts within ourselves.
We have to be willing to quit making excuses and relying on statistics to tell us what we already know, yet are afraid to admit, because the reality is that our children are not the blame. WE ARE!!
America! THE SOLUTION BEGINS WITH US!!
Authenticity,
Byron Waring
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