Lately, I have to admit that I have been struggling with something. There has been a war raging in my head. In the last month or so I've had trouble sleeping at night, and the thought has been consistently with me throughout my day. I am truly troubled with the current state of our youth. I know that, to older generations, it always seems as if the youth of their day is heading on a path of destruction. The latest music is blasphemy to their ears, overly violent & sexual. Their manners have vanished. "Please" & "Thank you" are terms only in the distant past. Respect to their elders is as common as snowfall on the equator, on & on...
I tend to agree with all of the thoughts above. However, my question is "why has this come to be?". I can't begin to think that I have all of the answers at the age of 25. I don't believe that their DNA has genetically been altered to produce such behavior. However, I do believe that the culture in which our older generations have surrounded our youth with has cultivated their current state. Do we as a society hold our children & our students accountable for their transgressions? What expectations do we hold for our young people? It seems to me that we tend to turn a blind eye to undesirable actions for fear of alienating them. If we as parents, coaches, & educators do not set & hold the standards in which our youth should live by, who will provide the example?
Teachers having affairs with students is far too prevalent. Public servants being involved in lawless impropriety is far too common. Divorce rates are off the charts. Adultery within our marriages show our youth that vows & promises can be taken back. Value of human life has been reduced to a mere number & a choice. It's safe to say that our spine is as flimsy as a jellyfish in the sea. The examples being set should be in a book of life of "What NOT To Do'
Hollywood has tainted human values. Kids spend countless hours exposed to reality television such as Jersey Shore & Teen Mom. Shows in which cameras follow cast members around & catch their most outrageous actions, shouting matches, sexual adventures, slothfulness, & party habits on film & display them weekly for teens to take in. In many cases, young people see these people as idols & celebrate their stupidity, drunkeness, or irresponsible actions. What happened to television in which wholesome living & human decency were celebrated? How many tv shows are produced in the 21st Century that relate to shows like The Andy Griffith Show or I Love Lucy? At the end of every episode there seemed to be a lesson in life or the greater good in which could be learned from. Perhaps the greater sin is not Hollywood producing this "trash", but the older generations viewing them as acceptable entertainment for our youth & letting them into our homes.
Rarely do families sit down at the dinner table for a family meal & take the time to discuss their day. How many parents & teachers are unaware of the problems that our youth are facing or are caught blindsided by unthinkable acts such as Newtown, Connecticut? Most of the issue lies in the fact that we don't take the time to talk to our children & our students & give them guidance in which to properly help solve or rectify their problems. Children & young adults need our attention, not our money or frivolous possessions. They need to be nurtured & shown they are loved. We are confused as to why school shootings & other atrocities occur with no remorse, that the perpetrator seems "cold" & "distant". Were they told they were loved or care for? We should actively seek to teach them lessons in the fair treatment of others & the warm rewards we feel as a result of giving. How selfish is it to turn them away so their "problems" don't cause inconvenience our own lives?
Our apathy & lack of attention from the older generation has given way to many of the problems our youth face. The problem is not our youth. It is in their DNA to be curious, to push the envelope. However, it is OUR responsibility to offer steadfast & consistent guidance to assure that good & evil are separated. Right & wrong are black & white. However, the "gray area" is rapidly growing. It is up to us to draw the line in the sand & to defend goodness, accountability, respect, & chivalry with an iron & unwavering shield. We must not be afraid of how they will perceive our guidance. In the end, such as I did, they will come to understand why their parents & leaders set forth their rules & expectations. Our youth need to be protected from indecency & worldly evil, not thrown into the fire to make their own decisions. You wouldn't throw an untrained soldier into the field of battle without preparing him to fight for himself. We are preparing our youth for a war of good & evil. So please, don't be afraid to pick up your sword, stand your ground, & fight the good fight. Evil only prevails when good people do nothing to stop it...
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