The Way I See It - We must take a stand with bold action

The Way I See It
By Doug Dickerson
Staff Writer
October 4, 2006

The universal brotherhood of man is our most precious possession. -Mark Twain

The news coming out of the Lowcountry the past few weeks has not placed South Carolina in the best light. From the armed robberies by the students from Wando High School, and three teens arrested for robbing convenvience stores in Summerville, to the robbery of the video store by the young teens, including a nine-year-old too young to be charged, in downtown Charleston.

All of these things point to a more pressing crisis in the fabric of the community that must be addressed. I think it’s important to make the observation that what we see happening transcends race and economics. The culprits of the above mentioned examples are white, they are black, and they are of economic means and economic want.

Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to identify the problems around us. The examples I cited are but a small sampling of what we see taking place around us on a regular basis. Solutions that are presented, while worthy of the merits of consideration, need to be enacted sooner rather than later. The struggle, however, centers on what the most viable, working solutions are. I don’t profess to have all the answers to these complex issues, but I will, in the arena of public discourse, offer a few solutions.

First, parents must be held accountable for the actions of their children. As a former educator, I know first hand the attitude of many parents that it is the school’s responsibility to raise their children. I know first hand the dark, sad truth that too many parents are totally detached from the lives of their children and are basically clueless to their activities. Yet, when the children of these parents, end up on the wrong side of the law, they are the first ones to point fingers of blame. And sadly, they are pointing in the wrong direction. Children cannot practice good citizenship and social responsibility if they do not have role models in the home to hold them to account. While I don’t want to unfairly stereotype here, we all know that good parents can have children do bad things. Also, bad parents can have children do good, despite the bad example they may set. Without parental accountability, the headlines you read in the paper will not change.

Second, we must take bold, aggressive action that clearly spells out consequences that we are not afraid to enact, and highlight the positives that are truly making a difference. The feeling of entrapment that many young people have, that there is no alternative to the life they are leading, is one we have the power to change. Our approach with regard to law enforcement must be bold and unafraid. We must be tough and the punishment must fit the crime. The reality is, we don’t enforce the laws we have on the books often enough. Until we take a zero-tolerance approach to the type of criminal behaviors we see going on, can we be optimistic. We must offer constructive alternatives that show young people a better way. Laws alone will not change hearts. Yet, there are many activities and programs available that will help. It’s time for leaders and workers on the front lines to stop asking, “What can we do?” and start announcing, “Here’s what we are doing.”
Dialogue is fine and well, but while we are talking and twiddling our thumbs about everything that is wrong, another youth falls through the cracks.

Finally, from after-school programs, community center programs, youth recreation leagues, to church youth groups, there are workable solutions available.
While it’s true there is a lot that has gone awry in society, we must spotlight what is good, what is working, and point the light in that direction. It is time to reclaim the future that lies in the hearts of our children.

©Summerville Journal-Scene 2006