When I grew up, we were taught to use our manners, life was not so dangerous then, as it is now; at least as far as we knew. We were told not to talk to strangers…and so, for the most part we did not. And while we were not talking to strangers, we worried about offending someone because we did not speak back to them, when they spoke to us. We played outdoors, we walked to activities, we went to school and were safe (except the school bully…who would get disciplined when caught…and everything was fine). As we got to high school, we got a few more freedoms and priviledges and were always admonished to “be careful”.
Today, we send our kids to school and don’t know if they are going to be safe; shot, bullied, knifed, or sexually assaulted. Children can no longer play outdoors without being supervised, even into the teen years because of kidnapping, sexual assaults, or driveby shootings. Gang activity has become surrogate family for some youths who either can’t avoid getting pulled in or are forced into it by not having a way to get out of it.
Shopping centers and banks are prone to violence. Churches have to have guards because of threats of violence or unrest. Pastors/Priests/Rabbi’s/or other Spiritual Advisors can’t meet with anyone alone for fear of being accused of wrongdoing or out of fear for their safety. God forbid that they seek the quiet of the church to pray alone or work…because, someone could come in and do them bodily harm. The sanctity of the church or God’s house is no longer given the respect it deserves as a place of refuge and spiritual nurturing.
Driving along the road you can be injured or killed because someone else may have a road rage problem. Walking to your vehicle from any business can cause you to be kidnapped, mowed over by another vehicle, chased down and raped or beaten. It is a randomness that can happen to anyone, no matter their training if they happen to be distracted long enough to be vulnerable.
You can’t get through a year without hearing of someone shooting at vehicles on the highway or dropping items off of an overpass onto unsuspecting travelors. Office place or work related violence is becoming the norm. If someone is fired or is not getting along with their co-workers they hatch a plan to kill, maim and destroy.
Daycares are under attack, children are being killed, tortured or brutalized by the very people who are supposed to love them and protect them…. or by their very own family members. We have kids killing neighbors, friends…and enemies; young child or elderly, male/female, it does not seem to matter. They do not care about the well-being of their fellow human beings.
Could it be that they have been “desensitized” towards the feelings or safety of others by years of abuse & neglect role modeled in their own families, or on their choice of entertainment-ie: movies, videos, video games, books and magazines? Some of those entertainments use violence and sexual assault as part of their entertainment. Do these offenders understand the line between make believe (acting) and real life? Clearly, I don’t think they do; or if they do, they do not equate their actions with the consequences that are sure to follow!
Now, as of yesterday…we have our own military personel firing on their own fellow soldiers with the intent to kill, maim and destroy. Now the analyzers go into action mode trying to understand such an attack…and yes, that is important. However, I don’t know about you…but, it gets very frustrating to me to hear of any kind of news item of this nature which then turns into a litany of “EXCUSES” for why the event took place. Whether it was childhood trauma, abuse, or neglect, religious beliefs, terrorism, fear, anxiety, anger issues or control issues, or an inability to connect with others…underneath it all, it doesn’t change the outcome.
There has to be common sense used in how we handle these things; otherwise:
Being raised to be careful will no longer good enough…we will have to raise our children, our teens and instruct our elders to no longer trust, to no longer give the benefit of the doubt about someone’s intentions. We will have to teach them to be paranoid about being hurt, taken advantage of …of expecting someone to take out their rage from their childhood on the innocent people in their path on the wrong day. It is a sick way of thinking…but, to survive the violent society that we have allowed the United States of America to become….we will have to always be looking for things to not be right around us. Don’t just look over your shoulder, don’t just observe the stranger in your neighborhood…you’ll have to watch your neighbor…make sure he or she is “safe” to be around. This is not a natural way to live our lives!
Families, communities, schools, businesses, churches and the armed forces have characters from all walks of life. People with good intentions, good will, and a willingness to treat others with respect, reponsibility, trust, safety and honor are becoming the minority. Oh there are plenty of good people out there; but, they are starting to feel outnumbered. We must build people up, encourage them and reward those who do the right things by recognizing them and their deed…simply for the idea that it IS the right thing to do!!!
If we don’t get a handle on how we are heading as a society we are going to be living in a war zone…everywhere we go; just like alot of places around the globe. It is a sad observation of where we have been, where we are now, and where we are on our way to becoming as an American society, in the future, if we don’t attempt to make some p0sitive changes.
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Once again, Rainy, you have touched a nerve.
This whole issue you bring up has gotten on my LAST nerve! When will people come to understand that living THEIR TRUTH in JOY and LOVE is the only real solution to this state of affairs?
Kids who know their truth will experience joy if they live in love…I guess that would be a happy pandemic to create.
Sigh…long sigh…let’s keep loving people. If they hear Truth often enough…if they experience joy it may become their new “drug” of choice…and we can change the world by loving one another ONE HEART AT A TIME.
It will be worth the struggle.
Hugs
Mother Connie
http://motherconniesez.blogspot.com
PS/I love you! For real.