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Our society is one that glamorizes violence in the name of news & entertainment,
sanctifies rudeness in the name of self-expression and justifies
inconsideration in the name of self-awareness.
Is it any wonder then that
our children, coworkers, neighbors, spouses, lovers, families, friends so often
hurt us and others? How can we be surprised when the neighbor's child is caught
breaking into someone's home; when our own child and his/her friends admit in
private that they regularly cheat on tests at school; when a friend laughs about
those extra business "expenses" they got reimbursed for; when someone cuts in
front of you at the checkout line; when a fellow driver hurls invectives at you
for driving too slowly?
In a society experiencing a breakdown of basic ethics and common courtesies,
how can we be surprised at gang violence, drive-by shootings, insurance fraud,
perjury.... children as murderers?
A child taught to respect him or herself, learns to respect others. A child
taught to love him or herself, learns how to love others. A child who hears
"please" from those around him/her, learns to say "thank you". A child who sees
tolerance from people around him/her, learns tolerance. A child who sees
graciousness, learns graciousness.
A child who hears someone say "I'll just go a little over the speed
limit." begins to learn that it's okay to break the law. A child who hears "I don't feel like going to work today, I'll call in sick." begins
to learn that lying is alright. A child that hears "They're all lazy."
begins to learn bigotry. A child who hears "We should just kill them all."
begins to learn that violence is an answer.
It is our responsibility to teach, to guide, to encourage growth and goodness
in our children. It is our responsibility to set the example we would wish them
to follow. In every moment of every day we are the process that shapes our own
future and the society in which we live. As parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt,
uncle, teacher, family friend, waiter, waitress, bus driver, clergy, neighbor...
we are watched and we are heard.
What are the children seeing and hearing from you?
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