Where have all the good role models gone for our
children? I really could care less for
the adults, they can have their opinions and mentors or not. But when we grew
up, we had those we admired, those our parents told us to look up to and aspire
to be. With what is going on in America, right now, before our eyes, who do
children today get to watch, listen to and say “That is who I want to be and
sound like?”
As a parent, the people parents teach their children to talk
like are well-educated English speaking Americans that represent our country
well. We want our children to show respect for other human beings like those
running our country. We use to look to politicians like JFK, Roosevelt and
Ronald Reagan to exemplify speaking as American Presidents that used diplomacy
in talking to other countries and on the airwaves with grace and humility. We
no longer have that with our current leader. This is not the kind of language
we expect or accept our children to use, infact they get punished for using defamatory terms. Adults lose their jobs over this comments that current President has said. So why is it acceptable for our children to hear this and isn't it sad they no longer have a President that is a role model of decency?
Sports figures are not achievable for most in America. It is
the few that can attain that level of success. How many children actually get that opportunity?
However, once given that chance and those outrageously large salaries most of us will
never experience in a lifetime, why not use it for the betterment of
society? So many don't and are teaching youth the complete waste of wealth. Many, in years past, have had a
sense of responsibility to be a role model for children, to exemplify a great
citizen of this country.
As a strong Democrat, I respect the right of speech. I
believe anyone who has studied American history understands this is one basic
reason our founding fathers decided to break from England. Anyone speaking out
was thrown in jail. We deserve the right to speak out and if our government or
individuals do not like it, they need to recognize we live in the land of the
free, at least up till now.
Having said that, athletes taking a knee when the American
flag is hailed on the football field to protest racism in our country and
police brutality aimed at racial profiling must be given a second glance. Yes, they deserve to make a statement but is
this the place? I worry , with children
watching, they will see athletes they admire bowing down to the American flag
and perhaps interpret it the wrong way, as if it is not worthy of raising up in
pride of America. I really could care less of what adults think, feel or say.
My concern is children of America, they are the future. Is this the right message? How are they processing this? Can we be better as a society in resolving
our conflicts and how we speak about and solve our differences so that we don’t
negatively impact children?
Daily we are bombarded with teachers having sexual
relationships with kids. What happened to the times we were supposed to tell
kids to run to teachers with problems they were having and confide in
them? How the heck are kids suppose to
be comfortable doing that when parents now have to forewarn children to be
careful if teachers get too close to them? Any responsible parent will teach
their children that any adult, teachers included, that gets in their safe zone,
is a red flag. That makes it even harder for a child to feel comfortable
looking up to a teacher. Gone, another person to really want to aspire to be as
they have to look at them with a screening eye.
Coaching children has become so competitive that some
parents are refraining from even putting their children in sports. The few
games I have gone to over the last several years, I am not sure who is worse,
the coaches or the parents. No longer is
the focus on fun but on flat out winning or getting even with the child or
children that perform the best. It has become a video game of taking out
players with shouts that use to be grounds for removing parents for shouting
such unsportsmen like comments as “Take him out!” or “You don’t have to take
that shit!” Not only are the coaches becoming horrible examples of fair play
but the parents are encouraging foul play. Really, is this what we want
children to learn? How will this help them in the work environment where hard
work is how you get ahead, not knocking others down to succeed?
The real irony is taking children to Church and thinking
that will teach children how to be caring and compassionate and then not living
it. Saying you are a Christian and then approving adults that bully and being horribly upset
with children for harassing other children and not seeing any correlation.
Supporting athletes for years to the exclusion
of your family, buying their jerseys, missing children’s events and then
screaming at them for being foul because they don’t agree with your views
instead of listening to theirs. Hearing
feed the poor at church and putting money in the basket and then being okay with Medicaid being cut when so many depend
on this for healthcare for chronic illness. There is a direct connect. Be a role model for children of consistent behavior or you are sending mixed messages and not a role model that is worthy of respect.
I love America. I love children more. I believe the
differences that separate parties are less than the media and the leaders make
them out to be. I believe people want solutions but more importantly I believe
children need role models. I believe, as
my friend, a stark Republican said, average Americans can be great
representatives in government if given a chance. I believe they can and are
good role models for children or can be if the effort is put forth. I believe all of us can but we must hold
ourselves to a higher standard than so many in society are currently doing. But
it starts with you. Are you up for the
challenge? If so, start today. Put a kid ahead of yourself!
