When I hear the older set speak about the “good old days,” my mind conjures images of kids chasing ice cream trucks, fathers and sons tossing the ball around the front yard and reruns of the Lawrence Welk show. A time when kindness and reason reigned supreme and society reflected home life. Families huddled around the dinner table every evening, giving thanks to God for the abundance of food, giggling and loving one another. Life was grand. I remember these simpler times when life goals included the elusive art of enlightenment. When it was a parent’s dream to raise successful, balanced and loving children. Things like dignity, respect for the self and the fulfillment of one’s gifts and talents were lofty, but not unattainable goals. When I was young, I was expected to be charming, proper, honorable and accomplished. By treating myself with respect, I could allow myself to accept respect from others. Be a woman of class and substance. Accept no less than the best.
Now that I am an adult with young children of my own, I try to raise them with the same mindset. But is that an impossible goal to expect as a parent? Although they are still in Elementary School, I see a loss of innocence, of wild eyed wonder and most importantly, hope for a rosy future. All one has to do is watch television for an hour or two to be fully discouraged about a bright, wholesome future. Society is corrupted. Children see the worst dregs that society has to offer and are routinely pressured to become lawless and self-absorbed. Do what you want, regardless of whether it is the proper thing to do. If it makes you feel good, do it, no matter who you hurt in the process. At the same time, be cognizant of the feelings of others and act accordingly. This senseless double standard is now mired in the heart of the education system and social media. What are these children to do? Make straight A’s, but don’t talk about it to those who refuse to study or learn. Be the best goalie the soccer field has ever seen, but don’t mention it to those who are not athletically able. Everything seems to have a codicil attached to it.
This mantra of forced compliance confuses children into not doing anything. Why try to accomplish goals or to be the best when success is damned? Instead of elevating those who follow the rules and strive for greatness, we give more attention to those with no ambition, no goals and no motivation. Ignore the great, smother the lesser. This disgusting change in the way we educate and raise our youth is applauded and encouraged. But then again, when society worships at the alter of pop culture, what did we expect would happen?
So not only are the youth of society woefully uneducated and not held to personal responsibility, they are inundated with sex and the drug culture. Sex sells everything from toothpaste to sports cars. Pubescent girls are instructed about how to have the best orgasm and boys are enlightened on the best way to bag a middle school babe. Every year more and more children are birthing unwanted babies. Males will have 5 “baby mamas” and 6 kids by the time they are 25 years old. The concept of marriage is considered antiquated and out of touch with reality. And in the end, the majority of these births are cared for by the government in the form of welfare, or the beleaguered grandparents are charged with raising the child.
Drug addiction is now considered a disease. A disease? No, drug addiction is brought on by those who want to escape reality and hide behind the mask of hardcore drugs. Smoking Meth is not a disease. Cancer is a disease. Schizophrenia is a disease. Mad Cow is a disease. An addiction to crack cocaine is not a disease. By making these things diseases, weak willed, self-absorbed people have a scapegoat to pin their shortcomings on. Take all responsibility away from the junkie. This way, the drug user can easily say that drugs did it, not me. The disease made me steal from my mom. The disease made me prostitute myself. Not me. I’m a victim. Look, it’s ludicrous. Take responsibility for your actions and your lust for drugs.
But taking responsibility for the actions of the self is an old idea for the older generations. The new world order reigns supreme. But mark my words, eventually society will realize that these backwards ideals are for the detriment of humanity, and when that realization happens, it will be too late. These children of the youngest generation will look at us and say, how do we fix our parent’s mistakes? How can we look past our corrupted childhoods? Will they pretend to be thankful for being thrown aside at the whims of the parent? In time past, children were first on the list, but now, it is what the parent(s) desire. An upheaval in residence to smite the estranged parent, a new lover, a drug or some other self centered impulse reigns supreme.
I know how to quell bad parental behavior, but those ideas are not in fashion. What I believe is not what the media or the education system pushes on us. But it is simple. Love your children above all else. Raise them to be the best they can be. Tell them they are loved and protected and that they come first before all else. Teach them to be dignified, honest and brave. The rest will follow. And maybe, just maybe, they will be better than we are now.
Now that I am an adult with young children of my own, I try to raise them with the same mindset. But is that an impossible goal to expect as a parent? Although they are still in Elementary School, I see a loss of innocence, of wild eyed wonder and most importantly, hope for a rosy future. All one has to do is watch television for an hour or two to be fully discouraged about a bright, wholesome future. Society is corrupted. Children see the worst dregs that society has to offer and are routinely pressured to become lawless and self-absorbed. Do what you want, regardless of whether it is the proper thing to do. If it makes you feel good, do it, no matter who you hurt in the process. At the same time, be cognizant of the feelings of others and act accordingly. This senseless double standard is now mired in the heart of the education system and social media. What are these children to do? Make straight A’s, but don’t talk about it to those who refuse to study or learn. Be the best goalie the soccer field has ever seen, but don’t mention it to those who are not athletically able. Everything seems to have a codicil attached to it.
This mantra of forced compliance confuses children into not doing anything. Why try to accomplish goals or to be the best when success is damned? Instead of elevating those who follow the rules and strive for greatness, we give more attention to those with no ambition, no goals and no motivation. Ignore the great, smother the lesser. This disgusting change in the way we educate and raise our youth is applauded and encouraged. But then again, when society worships at the alter of pop culture, what did we expect would happen?
So not only are the youth of society woefully uneducated and not held to personal responsibility, they are inundated with sex and the drug culture. Sex sells everything from toothpaste to sports cars. Pubescent girls are instructed about how to have the best orgasm and boys are enlightened on the best way to bag a middle school babe. Every year more and more children are birthing unwanted babies. Males will have 5 “baby mamas” and 6 kids by the time they are 25 years old. The concept of marriage is considered antiquated and out of touch with reality. And in the end, the majority of these births are cared for by the government in the form of welfare, or the beleaguered grandparents are charged with raising the child.
Drug addiction is now considered a disease. A disease? No, drug addiction is brought on by those who want to escape reality and hide behind the mask of hardcore drugs. Smoking Meth is not a disease. Cancer is a disease. Schizophrenia is a disease. Mad Cow is a disease. An addiction to crack cocaine is not a disease. By making these things diseases, weak willed, self-absorbed people have a scapegoat to pin their shortcomings on. Take all responsibility away from the junkie. This way, the drug user can easily say that drugs did it, not me. The disease made me steal from my mom. The disease made me prostitute myself. Not me. I’m a victim. Look, it’s ludicrous. Take responsibility for your actions and your lust for drugs.
But taking responsibility for the actions of the self is an old idea for the older generations. The new world order reigns supreme. But mark my words, eventually society will realize that these backwards ideals are for the detriment of humanity, and when that realization happens, it will be too late. These children of the youngest generation will look at us and say, how do we fix our parent’s mistakes? How can we look past our corrupted childhoods? Will they pretend to be thankful for being thrown aside at the whims of the parent? In time past, children were first on the list, but now, it is what the parent(s) desire. An upheaval in residence to smite the estranged parent, a new lover, a drug or some other self centered impulse reigns supreme.
I know how to quell bad parental behavior, but those ideas are not in fashion. What I believe is not what the media or the education system pushes on us. But it is simple. Love your children above all else. Raise them to be the best they can be. Tell them they are loved and protected and that they come first before all else. Teach them to be dignified, honest and brave. The rest will follow. And maybe, just maybe, they will be better than we are now.
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