I wish I could believe that one person can make a REAL difference. I am trying to be that person, and it seems my efforts go unnoticed. Maybe, I have set my goal too high. Maybe even what I'm trying change is impossible. These days, it seems much harder, to do something good. I think it has become so rare, that people don't even recognize when someone is reaching out, or trying to make a difference.
I am a mother of four young children. They are my life. They are the reason I get up everyday. They are my inspiration for everything I do. Sure, I mess up sometimes, after all, they didn't come with a handbook. But, in my little corner of the world, I would like to think that I am doing the best I can.
It is my job as a parent to give my kids what they need to survive, and my job to teach them about life, and just try to make them be a good person. That is my general thought about not just myself, but all parents. I mean, when you have a kid, they become your life. Everyone knows that, or do they? I mean do they really know?
These days, I'm not so sure. I know I'll ruffle some feathers on this, but things are bad. I'm not too sure "I'm proud to be an American". I know, I know, how appauling. Right? I expected such a reaction. But, let me please tell you why, I feel that way. I mean, why would someone feel like that. America is the place to be, people are dying to come to this country. We are so great, the land of opportunity, freedom, and you know the rest.
People should be running away from this place. Take a good hard look at this country we love so much, this "great" nation. I am lucky to live in a place where kids are being stolen from their beds and murdered. I'm so lucky that my child may not make it home from school because he might get shot at school, or walking home from school.
I'm so grateful, that I can not let my kids play outside because someone might offer them drugs or they could get kidnapped. Oh, this is my best privledge of being an American, if my child doesn't get shot, or kidnapped, or if they don't make it to the drug rehab, I'll be so lucky to be raising my teen daughter's baby.
Yup, we are so lucky. Yes, I am complaining, and I'll do it again, and again. Hello?? People, if this is such a great nation, and "the place to be," then get me a one way ticket to, anywhere at this point.
We are fighting a war over seas. Well, ok, whatever, America to the rescue. But, look around. I know we love our children more than this. I know I can't save the world, even though, I would love to. But, I will not sit here and wonder if every time my child leaves the house, is that the last time I'm going to see them.
Wake up America. Get off the high horse and do something. Stop running around playing hero to everyone else, when we need to be saved, ourselves. Who is helping us, our kids, the future of this country.
As bad as things are in other parts of the world, for an American citizen to not want to be here, and raise my family here. That's a major problem.
I have written to the schools, the papers, anyone who I can, to hopefully get someone to listen. I fear for my children and their future, if they get that far.
I totally place the blame of such mess on society. Our friends, peers, the public in general. We have a voice, we have the power to change things. We live in a place where we can have a say on how we live. We can stand together, and make a change. Isn't that like in the Constitution or something. You know, that document that says freedom of speech and all.
We, as a society, tolerate way too much. When our babies are being taken from their beds, and we have to buy bullet proof vest for our kids to go to school, don't we think thats wrong?
Are we human? Do we have feelings, or we are all taking so many drugs, that our ability to tell right from wrong has been put to sleep. We are all on anti-depressants, "happy pills." Oh, life is good, "I'm so happy." Oh, the world has become a bad place, but, I'll just take my pills and go one. "That's the way things are these days".
Sound familiar, maybe it's a conspiracy. Keep everyone drugged up, and we'll all just kill each other, and that way we can keep down. We have no money left to spend on our Americans because we spent it all in Iraq.
We have to protect our people, you know, keep the bad guys out. We won't tolerate terrorists in our country. Ok, cool. You want to protect us, good job. If this is protection, please don't do us any favors.
Our country did experience an awful, awful, tragety. We did grieve together as a nation, and we spoke our mind about it. We all knew how the other person felt. Disgusted, saddened, hurt, many things. We had a voice at that very tragic time. It affected everyone, directly or otherwise.
We can do it again. Don't we see, while that was a huge tragety, and many people died, people are dying on our streets everyday. It should not have to take planes falling from the sky, to get the attention of the people. Cause, if we think that way, we are in more trouble than I thought.
I want to give my kids a chance to succeed in life, and make this the great nation we once were. We have people fighting overseas. We have no one fighting for us, right here. Please, for the sake of our kids, and the future of America, please, wake up. Don't look away because you don't want to get involved. That's the problem. We are too busy, we have to slow down, and guide these kids down a new path.
You know I'm right. Come on, don't teach your child who is in kindergarten about sex and drugs, because he's gonna pick it up on the streets. Children absolutly need to know about those things, at the right time. Why are we forcing our children to grow up so fast.
Instead of hosting a sleep-over for your 13 year-old daughter, you are giving her a baby shower. Instead of taking these boys and teaching them how to fix a car or build things, they are learning how to shoot a gun and get fast money by hustling drugs.
We have totally brain-washed our kids into thinking that life is about fast cars, fast money, sexy women. We have allowed hustling to become a "profession". It's become such a way of life that rappers sing about it. I have seen on a talk show, where two males, ages 12 and 13, were asked by the host what they wanted to do with their life,when they grow up. To which they answered "We want to hustle." These boys fortunatly had both parents in the house. These kids had rules, and values at home. Their parents tried hard. But, once again, "Socity," because of what we have become, took those boys, and everything they learned at home, and made them another victim.
We have to stop the "MONSTER". It takes our kids, our babies, who we supposedly love so much, and turns them into someone else. It's almost like a movie. Reminds me of "Children of the Corn". I couldn't describe it better if I tried.
Let's come together, like we know we can. Clean up our streets, get tough love, and values back in the home. If both parents can't be there, that is still no excuse. If, parents these days are letting society raise their child,(I think there's alot of that)we can try to help those parents. It's not the job of the school and the neigborhood to teach these kids, we have seen what that does. But, if they unfortunatly, have no choice, no love at home, it is not the fault of the child. Those children are turning to the streets for attention and guidance. We should not give them the impression that they have no choice. We need to take those kids and show them we care, show them another way. If they have no guidance at home, we should not make the only other option, to become a thug.
Instead of spending money on rehabilitating the corrupted kids, trying to reverse the damage, why not work prevention. Get involved, find out what the kids like. Chess clubs and things like that might be out dated, but we can make new clubs. Cater to their interest, anything to keep them off the streets.
I know, you know, I'm right. I'm working in my community. So far, I've hit a brick wall. But, for the sake of my kids, and anyone else I can help, I will not give up. Don't be so quick to give up. If they don't hear you the first time,try again. Try and try. Nothing will change if we just sit here.
Thank You |
