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Listening to public radio a few weeks ago, I caught
the tail end of a conversation with a Delaware judge who was
promoting legislation that would require a 72 hour counseling/evaluation
period for students who make serious threats to others at school.
He did not want to see these students return to the classroom
until intense examination had been completed to determine the
level of true danger these kids might pose. I could tell that
even having to propose such a law was distu the judge, and
at the culmination of the interview he gave insight into why
violence requiring such legislation is increasing at such a
disturbing rate. He said that that the kid-adult relationship
had dramatically changed over the years of his life. Kids once
had admiration, respect, and fear of adults. They first lost
admiration, then respect, and now had lost fear as well. He
sadly commented that maybe this legislation would restore a
little bit of fear. End of interview.
We can't blame kids can we? We can't finger point at
all. We must go on the offensive.
The easiest loss to restore is fear. It is also the least
effective in the long run. Tougher laws, increased accountability,
juvenile prisons and whatever else we deem necessary can
help restore order. They may be needed to do just that.
However, these are temporary solutions because historically
they do little to restore and remake character.
Working to restore admiration and respect, on the other
hand, would have longer lasting benefits, and doing this
is largely our local adult responsibility. Lately we've
been dealt a nasty blow as our leaders in government have
given us little to admire and respect. Hollywood and professional
sports also give us unrealistic role models, and, fairly
or not, bad news pervades in both camps. The answer for
our kids is us, the flesh and blood they contact every
day.
Author Kurt Vonnegut once commented in an interview that
we need to be more "local." He explained that he grew up
knowing the local symphony conductor, the architect of
his school, and the first chair clarinet of Indianapolis
Symphony, all of whom visited his house so that he could
know them in the flesh. These people were among the most
important influences in his life, and they were that because
they were present.
Our kids need to know us, their pastors and teachers
and coaches, insurance agents and mothers. They need to
make business phone calls, deliver gifts, and visit people
in hospitals. We need to push them past the comfortable
world of screen and into the world of real people where
they will encounter those they can admire and respect.
Then respect for all of life will increase and the pervasion
of violence will suffer a serious blow. When we become
more "local," admiration, respect, and even a healthy fear
will return to grace our society.
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Let's Get Local