Sunday, December 16

My Opinion

The shooting at the school in CT., on Friday was a tragedy. Families are grieving the loss of their children just a week before Christmas. Losing a child is bad enough at the best of times, but at this time of year it is even more devastating. My heart goes out to the family and friends of everyone involved in this horrific incident. 

That said, I believe that this began back when I was young. First they said the teachers couldn't read the Bible and that we couldn't recite the Lord's Prayer because someone might be offended. Then they took corporal punishment out of the schools because the strap might damage a child's psych. Believe me, it wasn't the psych that was hurt. It was the child's hands and then when they got home, it was usually the child's bottom that hurt. 

I never had the strap myself, but saw many children who did. Mostly they didn't cross that line again. It took some longer to learn than others, but they did learn. 

If you take God out of everything, why should He be there to protect us? We need to get back to basics. If some families are offended when we read the Bible or pray in our schools, those children with different religions should congregate in another room where they can practice their religion freely. There is room for all religions in schools.

Kids today get away with too much. If the teacher scolds them, they go running to Mom & Dad, saying they weren't treat fairy. Who in the world ever gave them the idea that the world is fair? It's not and that is fact. We are bringing our children up to think that there is no consequence for their actions. This is wrong. 

If a parent punishes their child by spanking or other means, like sending them to bed without dinner, they run crying to someone and then Child Protective Services or Children's Aid, as it's called in Canada, threaten to take the children away. Yet those children who are really abused, often fall through the cracks. 

So, what is the problem with the youth of today?  In my opinion, they don't have consequences for their actions and think they can get away with anything. That's pretty much true. 

When I was a kid and even a teen, I knew the consequences. If I got in trouble at school, I got in more trouble at home. If I didn't get good grades, I had to answer to my parents as to why. This prepared me for the real world and I knew that every thing I chose to do had consequences, whether it was good or bad. Rewards for good behavior and consequences for bad or inappropriate behavior. 

I don't believe that any child is bad. They are not born bad. Children learn what they see and respond to the way they are treated. They need guidance in order to grow into responsible adults. We are allowing our children to fall through the cracks by not teaching them the reality of life. How sad is that?

7 comments:

  1. Well stated, Mary. I see too many children - and adults - who do not take responsibility for their actions. They think they can do anything they want and never pay the price. This is so wrong. Parents are too soft. They don't want anything bad to happen to their children. But how are children to learn if they are not allowed to make mistakes and suffer the consequences. Sometimes you need to hit bottom to learn to pull yourself up again.

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  2. Lynne, so nice to see you here. I just got back from a visit to your blog and found a couple of great books to read.

    I agree with you totally. It's time adults and children alike learned that you have to live with the consequences of your decisions and actions.

    @Mari, so glad you could drop by.

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  3. I agree. Far too much tolerance for bad behavior. I never got the strap at school but I did get the palm of my hand slapped with the ruler. Boy did that sting. Oh yes, I had it comeing. I never commited that crime again either! HA!

    Yes the tragedy in Connecticut is unthinkable. When I consider all the Christmas presents that the parents have got for their little ones and now they are gone it makes me ache for the parents.

    Hey Mary, Is it very hard to change the background and header of your blog? Mine has been the same for years and I'd really like to know how to change it.

    Have a Merry Christmas.

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  4. Mary,
    I wholeheartedly agree...

    My thoughts and prayers are with the families in Newtown, Connecticut...

    I don't think our Heavenly Father is pleased with the 40 million
    aborted babies either.

    We certainly have walked in our own ways and we are suffering the consequences ...

    Blessings...Betty

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  5. Well Mary, I am one of those who totally disagrees with you. I as a teenager refused to stand and recite the Lord's Prayer in High School. When I discovered they were still having religious devotions in the public school when I returned to Canada with my son, I objected and was given the opportunity to have him stand outside the class with the Jehovah Witness children. I decided it would be less harmful for him to stay in the class. I had thought they had stopped religion in the schools. There was a report just after I left school (the McKay Report I think) that recommended doing away with classroom devotions. The government did not follow this advice. My being a clergyman, confused the school Principal, who first tried to tell me that it was important for some of the children for this would be the only religion they got. When he realized my objection he argued it was not all that important it was just a little religious devotion. I told him he could not have it both ways, it being important and then not being important. While I think religious devotions have no place in a public school I would support the teaching of religions as an academic subject.

    I trust by writing what you did you are not suggesting, as some have, that the lack of religion, and Liberal views, in the school in Connecticut brought God's Judgment down on the innocent children and that town. This is utter nonsense.

    The real reason I am leaving this comment is out of concern for for you and your grandchildren. As soon as they mentioned that the shooter suffered from Aspergers I thought how distressing that would be for you and that there would be links made between that condition and violent behaviour in people's minds. That would be so unfair and disturbing for families with members having this condition. There is no connection but just mentioning it for some it would be enough to be suspicious. I am sorry if this distressed you.

    I feel so bad for you and your husband for what you are going through. I hope you and him can develop a positive attitude. If his life is shorter that one might expect, I hope he lives every moment of it to the fullest.

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  6. I hope you-all have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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