Re: columbine
Patti Larrabee (Patti.Larrabee@hsc.utah.edu)
Fri, 23 Apr 1999 07:30:34 -0600
Paula,
Perhaps you and your peers might consider that you are the ones who should =
raise the children of the next generation so that you might instill some =
of the values you see missing now. =20
I must disagree with the theory that this is somehow related to a lack of =
a sense of history. It seems to me that there may be a little too much =
sense of history in the Balkans.
What I see as a parent is that too often people are not involved in the =
lives of those around them. There is no sense of community in raising our =
families. Barbara Kingsolver wrote an anecdote about the difference =
between playgrounds in the U.S. and Italy. When a child falls from a =
swing in Italy all the moms run to help it up. When a child falls in the =
U.S. all the moms look around for that childs mother to help it. This is =
very simplified, but as someone who has spent my share of time at =
playgrounds I can say this is true. In addition, and here is the kicker, =
if you do reach out to the fallen child you will get a negative "mind your =
own business" reaction. This has got to stop. It is time to mind each =
others children. I feel confident that there are plenty of parents who =
knew those two boys for many years now saying things like they knew the =
had problems, etc. Why didn't they speak up?=20