School shootings. Sexual harassment/assault. Child abuse. Human trafficking. Etc. To quote the Lorax, “Until.” Until WE, as a society acknowledge our responsibility these evils will continue. We can call for legislation and stiffer criminal penalties, but, in reality, we need to take a careful introspective look at our society and ourselves.
We need to do better jobs at home, in school, and in sports to identify problem children and deal effectively. I don’t think the current practices of emotional bubble wrap and nobody fails does much to build emotionally strong and stable adults. The problems we are facing as a society are Spiritual. Religion is not the solution—but it can contribute the solution (as well as it can contribute to the problems). We have lost our sense of community and personal responsibility.
We ignore the issues until it becomes a social media trend. We fail to step in and step up when opportunity calls. We fail to realize that our children, like ourselves, are flawed and far from perfect.
There is no room for accountability in our society. Rather, we create an increasing sense of entitlement among ourselves and children. Entitlement is the corollary to Spiritual well-centeredness.
I struggle to uphold the mantra: “I am third.” I repeatedly try to impose my needs upon those around me. UNTIL I learn yield to the needs of my family and neighbors, my relationships will struggle. UNTIL we as a society learn to yield to the needs of the whole and not focus on our “rights”, we will have conflict and oppression. UNTIL we concern ourselves with the health and well-being (Spiritually, Physically, Intellectually, Emotionally, and Socially), our society will continue to worsen.
We need to allow our children to fail and face rejection, we will see a society that have no understanding of the value of human life and feels entitled. UNTIL the person who stands by and does nothing is held to some level of account, the perpetrators of evil will continue—and worsen.
UNTIL each and every one of us steps up….
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!