Fred,
You make very good points. Parents aren't involved enough.
However, teenagers are able to hide too much from parents. I know because I did...even though my parents thought they knew. The world is different than it was a decade ago (when I was a teenager). It's more violent.
Although the involvement of the parents is, by far, the largest single piece to the puzzle, there are other pieces. A 9-year old boy should not be able to purchase a CD with violent songs. My 9-year old neighbor was "singing" a rap song to me a couple years ago. It was a song about raping a girl at gun point and forcing her to perform oral sex. The f-word was used liberally. I stopped him after about 10 seconds and told him that "isn't cool." He was really into it and smiling as he sang and pretended he was holding a gun. Not even a month earlier, a college girl in our city was kidnapped, tortured, raped, and murdered (as she bled to death, they stood on her chest trying to force the air out...graphic details that were public knowledge; I'm sure he heard the story). Now I'm hearing my 9-year old neighbor sing about doing something similar...it was scary!
I believe we need laws preventing minors (under 18) from buying graphic music or video games. Buying, not possessing. If I so choose, I can buy it for my child. Of course, my children will find an 18-year old willing to buy it for a price. If that happens, and I see any of that material, at least then I know it wasn't legally purchased it and I can ask questions and talk about it. I won't know everything my children have or do, but any little bit will help.
In my state, girls can get abortions without notifying her parents. I want to know...it can be a very scary time for a child and even close friends can seem distant. Parents need to know this info so they can help their children through a very scary time. Not to mention the pysche of the young girl is tremendously damaged by an event like this. Of course, everyone has an opinion, I'm just stating mine.
My point? Society has taken parents out of the equation in many cases. Parents can do their best to stay involved, but kids can hide things if they want to. That's where a change in the laws will help.
Remember, these are all small pieces. The big piece is parents knowing their children.
My opinions only.
Jody |
