Some days you just have to wonder what this world is coming to. Today was a rare occasion, I picked up the newspaper and read something other than the obituaries or the comics. I usually find the news to depressing, but this story head line "Rave Rape Outrage" pulled me in, as I read I was thoroughly disturbed.
Maybe it is because I am a mother of 3 teenage daughters, maybe it is because of the horrid actions of others, and the inexplicable lack of actions on the part of others. Maybe it was because of the apparent lack of concern from those in attendance, some even laughing. All of the above apply. But it was the quote from one young man who wrote, "if you knew the whole story you would find it funny." I highly doubt it, there is NOTHING funny about this, humor is not a word that I would use to describe such a event. More like horrific, disturbing, frightening, sickening, sad, appalling, heartbreaking, nauseating, inhumane not to mention STUPID! It makes me wonder what drives a community (that being those who were at the event) to be so heartless and uncaring. Do not even get me started on the young man that used his cell phone to TAKE VIDEOS and PHOTOS instead of phoning for help. What was he thinking.... makes me want to vomit! I thought of this for hours today, where have we gone wrong?
My heart breaks for this 16 year old girl, her family and her "friends" that were with her and now have to live with the horror and consequences. EVERY day for the rest of their lives, it is so hard to put things like this behind you and move on. This will never go away, this is the sad reality of the downside of the inter-net, the speed of which information gets out there and how hard it is to retract once it is.
What is our moral compass????
Moral - 1:of or relating to the principles of right and wrong 2:forming to a standard of right behavior.
Compass - 1: a devise determining direction
Is teen culture so absorbed with being accepted, cool and self centered that the do not respond to the needs of others? Are they so desensitised that they do not see this as wrong? Is their moral compass is so screwed that what is right and wrong is no longer known? It is sad on so many levels. Some people truly have no compass at all. Are scruples a thing of the past? Ethics?
However I feel strongly that all l teens and not be lumped together. To do that is wrong. There are many who strive to live a moral life to make a difference in the world around them to make sure that their life matters in a bright and positive way. They have a world view and a strong desire to make a difference, to change the world and make it a better place.
As a parent my hope and prayer and RESPONSIBILITY is to raise children who know the difference between right and wrong AND to do the right thing even when it is not the popular thing. To give them a compass that points to truth and rightness in the world and the fortitude to act in a way that matches that compass point. To take risks and do hard things, that they can rise above the mediocrity that seems to be the norm. That will CHANGE our world, Lord willing. As adults we need to give teens the chance to shine, to expect great things and not stand in the way when they have big ideas that they want to follow through on. One right decision at a a time..... May it be so!
Some further reading if you are interested..... Do hard things, the red one, is one best books I read last year. I highly recommend it to any parent with teens.
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