The Ranting Of A Middle Aged Woman

Have you ever wondered why the youth of today wear their clothing four sizes too big? Why the boys no longer were belts? Why the girls clothing is two sizes too small and seven inches too short?

Have you ever sat back and observed the way they walk? They zigzag like a snake slithering along the desert sand. They have their shoulders bent, body crooked to the side, like a person on methadone.

Have you observed how the youth congregate outside of the schools during school hours? Do you sometimes wonder how many students are actually in the classroom? I have? At my son’s school IS 59 you’d observe a sea of bodies playing on the sidewalk, running up the street, heading to the mall which is a block away or just hanging out in the school yard shooting the breeze.

Driving along the streets of New York I observe the strangest things. When the light is red cars are stopped and the youth can freely walk across the street, they don’t. As soon as the light turns green and the cars start to move they step off the sidewalk defying traffic. They crawl across the street at a snails pace giving me the “evil eye” as they go. They strut across with a macho air about them. I wonder if they think they’re superman or the bionic woman able to leap tall buildings and stop trucks with their bare hands.

Then as I drive home at night there are the “hang outs”. You know those youths that live on the street corners, just hanging out. They often look like they’re holding up a building or a store front. It could be eleven o’clock at night or three in the morning yet they guard the street as if it’s their home. Some of them look like children age six, or seven while others look as old as nineteen or twenty. Thinking to my self I would ask: Why are they out here? What is on their minds? Don’t they need rest? Don’t they know it’s not safe for children to be out so late? But then I catch myself. I think my kids aren’t out on the street. Why? Because I don’t allow it. Where are the parents? Who are raising these children?

There was a time when everyone in the community took an interest in the youth, what they were doing, where they went and how they learned. Everyone helped to one degree or another. That seems like ancient history now. The focus seems to be more and more about me and mine. How heartbreaking it is to think of what the youth today are missing.

The results are clearly demonstrated by the shocking things I hear. Incidents that are so outrageous I can’t even believe them. My neighbor told me that this summer as she gardened in her privately owned two family home; a teenaged boy opened her gate and walked in her yard. He proceeded to walk to the back of her house. She asked him, “Where are you going?”

Turning with much attitude he replied, “I’m going to jump your fence. I’m taking a short cut.”

In disbelief she told him, “You can’t do that. This is private property. You can’t just walk in here and jump my fence. You can’t do that.”

Realizing that he wasn’t going to be able to jump the fence he went out the same way he came. What was he thinking? What’s mine is mine and what yours is mine also.

Just this summer someone climbed my locked fence and stole my husbands and eldest son’s bikes. I ‘m sure it wasn’t an old timer because the fence is tall and most old timers have some type of joint pain. It probably wasn’t a middle aged person either for they most likely have pain too, like me. After consulting with the police we were informed that the youths have been stealing bikes in the area. I guess they really believe what is yours is mine.

As I look at the young people today, from the way they dress, carry themselves, and their disregard for people’s property I wonder what’s on their minds. Sometimes I just scratch my head and say, “Nothing absolutely nothing is on their minds.”

But then I’m reminded every now and again that there are youth who take pride in the way they dress. They obey the traffic signals; respect people’s property; they attend school regularly; and generally have positive goals and desires. This indicates that they’re being properly raised. But they seem to be so few and far in between.

I believe there are two groups of youth today, those that are attempting to hold on to good and wholesome values and those that don’t even know what that means. In time there may only be one group left; those that have no values at all. Why? Because without intervention by family, friends, or community they’ll do whatever feels good to them. Because having values, respect for people and their property, dressing in an appropriate manner (modesty) and having a desire to learn are characters that are taught.

I remember how difficult it was to stand up against the ridicules and condemnation that came from my peers for doing the right thing. I had support and training from family, teachers, and community.

As a society, we’ve given our youth the freedom to throw away the moral codes because there no longer exists an absolute truth. We threw it away for our love of money. We entice them with the movies, television, fashion and our warped view of success. We desire to have our pot of goal now. Why wait? Patience is dead. But what are we grooming them for in the future? Would we want them to take care of us as we age? Will they know how? Will that even be on their mind? Or will they, like us, pursue their pot of gold leaving the next generation (their children) to fend for themselves?

Maybe the youth are acting and dressing this way because they want us to put something on their mind. Stir their interest. Peak their curiosity. Show them a better way. Maybe this is their call for help.

What is on the minds of American youth today? Money, stardom, party-time, and fashion are on their minds. But I remember a time when studying, education, playing double dutch and jacks were on the minds of youth. When they played sports for the love of the game and not for the fortune and fame.

As I look around reminiscing of a time long gone, I’m glad I’m not a youth today for they’re missing out on the innocence of youth and the experiences that build true character. They’re missing the personal touch of community, relationship, and a respect for moral values.

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