On a recent television 'talk-show' a Psychologist with an advanced degree in 'behavior-science' said that today's American youth appear void of a 'proper-behavior-filter.' Really??? I wonder what was the (giveaway) clue???
A 'filter' is defined as some mechanism/device, which 'makes pure.' I am now wondering what changed the American youth purification-system. All I know is what I know from that which I lived or observed. Therefore, I shall jump into the conversation... you knew that I would!
To illustrate my point, I shall comment on just one current event happening very soon; EASTER. Consider how American 'youth' observe the centuries old Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ; everybody knows the Christian story of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. When I was counted amongst the American youth, I recall the Thursday (before Easter Sunday); I attended an evening MaundyThursday worship service. There was no school Good Friday and no school activities were scheduled. Usually, I attended some kind of community-wide mid-day Good Friday service. Easter Sunday, I attended morning worship, either sunrise or regular. There was 'No' school on Monday but come Tuesday, I was packing egg-salad sandwiches for school lunches the rest of the week. I can make the case that one such week held many 'filter building' elements.
Today's youth may attend Easter Sunday Church, however I seriously doubt any 'other' religious associated activities are part of their now WEEK-LONG Easter break. Many parents are planning family get-a-ways for a long-weekend and the college-age kid is drunk on some Florida beach hoping they can remember the orgy next morning.
What changed was parenting attitudes. All parents, yours truly included, are guilty of trying to make life better for their kids than what they had as kids. Unfortunately, many parents catch the wrong train and end up 'making life easier' for the kid and as the child basks in raining-entitlements their behavior-filter gets a tad bit rusty!!!
Do your own youth (generations) comparisons; I may have it wrong.
We allow children to 'have' access before they are mature enough to negotiate the waters. Teenagers get drunk at a high school party and a young girl is sexually violated. Rape charges end with two boys found guilty and facing incarceration. Other youngsters 'text' death threats to the rape victim who pressed the charges. You can bet the farm that all those kids have cars, an iPhone, designer clothes, pleasing-parents incapable of saying 'NO' and yet ready to write a check and defend any appalling and offensive behavior.
The rules, responsibilities and expectations placed upon me, as a child/teen, gave me a moral 'do-right' compass, which became my teenage and adult behavior-filter. Of course, my generation of youth benefited from three institutions passing-out those behavior-blueprints; parents, Church and school. It is not the case in 2013.
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