I’ll begin by saying that this post is a reflection of my initial reaction, which I am still holding on to until I can find a way to see it any other way. It’s not going to be nice and I’m sorry but it’s time people start to take responsibility. Again, these are my initial thoughts.
I saw the headline this morning and there was a cooresponding video clip: “4 teens die as stolen SUV slams into idle train”. Curious, I had to watch. What I heard amazed me. This father who just lost his daughter was standing there yelling about how there wasn’t a light or gate at the crossing. He was furious about this. The video continued and described what had happened. 6 teens stole an SUV, accident happened around 3:30AM, 4 teens in the backseat died, ages ranged from 12-17. Those were the facts as I heard them and have since read about. The father was upset over the fact that there was no light or gate …
Can someone please tell me if I’m supposed to feel bad here? Not about the fact that parents lost their children, I’m a parent and I can’t even imagine how that would feel and I never want to find out. But to lash out at the town/city for the lack of a light or a gate rahter than addressing the fact that your child was in a stolen vehicle at 3:30AM …I just don’t get it. People need to take some responsibility and stop trying to place blame. Had these kids been in bed where they should have been they would be alive this morning.
This country is going to hell in a handbasket and we’re partially to blame. Kids today aren’t raised the way they used to be. Parents don’t pay attention to their kids. TV, video games and the internet have become the national babysitter. What does this teach the youth of today? Have kids and push them off on to somebody else. What do they say about idle minds? If a person decides to have a child then they should also step up and be a parent. It’s not society’s job to raise your kids. Stop placing blame on the schools, on music, on tv and movies. The only person to who has control over these things is you the parent.
I am truely sorry for their loss.
Can we expect rational upon grievance? I am of the same opinion Kim…My initial thought is “Stolen Vehicle V’s Youth” I certainly was not thinking about shifting the responsibility…Parents ARE responsible for their children until they come of age, at such times where they can provide for themselves, pay their own way etc etc…Clearly these kids were far too young & immature to be left unsupervised. If the parents of the victims should blame anyone, it is THEMSELVES! Sure young lives have been lost, and I do feel a sense of empathy, but instances like this can be avoided if children are raised to abide the law, respect one another & others. Parents who turn a blind eye to the behaviour of their kin these days are just lazy & should not have pro-created!
Comment by Shaney — June 15, 2007 @ 10:47 pm |
BINGO! i have a 17 year old at home and we try to give him some latitude when it comes to going out and having a good time with his friends. sometimes we can’t be so generous with letting him be out at all hours of the night; we joke that we are abusing him by making him be home by 1 am on the weekends while his friends are free to do as they please until whenever it suits them to return home. but that’s just too bad. while he lives under our roof, he lives by our rules. end of story. no discussions. well, we do try to compromise on certain things as he proves his maturity and ability to make good decisions. but in no way would he ever even think to be out at 3:30 in the morning in a stolen vehicle no less. we’ve taught him well enough not to make that kind of mistake. and he knows better. thank god.
Comment by danny — June 15, 2007 @ 10:54 pm |