Posted by kat on July 27, 2002 at 09:46:02:
In Reply to: Re: They're Taking Our Children posted by Bob - the Alien on July 27, 2002 at 08:16:18:
: The situtation is definitely changed from when we were kids. What scares me even more than the potential for violence against children is the complacency with which children today take it. I have a friend who is 13 now, and just going into high school. Even in jr. high, the thought of his classmates bringing guns to school was not a big deal to him. What outrages us is commonplace to him.
: The real problem here is what happens 20 years from now. We are outraged enough to do something about it. The next generation might not be. And the repurcussions of that are truly frightening.
I have heard it said that what one generation tolerates, the next will embrace.
Think about that for a moment...
I am so glad Paula started this thread, and even more excited that you guys are responding!
Yeah when I was a kid my parents could let me roam the neighborhood on my little Stingray, banana seat bike, and when I say roam, I mean I went into town I was more than several blocks away. I was maybe 8-10 years old when I was doing this, that was about 30 years ago, in New York. You know where all the 'bad' people are.
I actually live not too far from a convicted sexual predator. He lives very close to the school.
My 14 year old thinks I don't give him any freedom, but I am frightened even for him. I mean wasn't there a 14 year old girl recently abducted from her home?
I am even leary of some the parents of my kids friends. I dont' know them well and I am not willing to let them spend the night or even go in their homes.
I am just ranting now, all this to say that I think it would be a step in theh right direction if all of us would be aware of children that are not ours. Even if you don't have kids we need to al be on watch for suspicious things.
Another parent told me that the rule for new friends is that before you can go over someone elses house your friend has to come over for dinner, this is in hopes that the parents will call and then of course they will also be invited. I think that is an excellent idea.
It all goes back to getting to know your neighbor, I love John Mcgee idea of living close to relatives and neighbors, but it's very important that we not be slow in getting to know the people we live next door to now.