Are teens getting more violent? Tue, September 16, 2008
OSHAWA, Ont. -- A Grade 11 student slain outside his school Tuesday was remembered as a friendly athlete whose only enemy was the young man accused of killing him.
It was about 2:15 p.m. when what police called "an ongoing dispute" between two students came to a head at a bus stop across the street from Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School at Stevenson and Rossland Rds.
While police said it wasn't clear whether one of the two students involved instigated the fight that broke out, witness Samantha Passero said the dispute was "mutual."
It wasn't long before 16-year-old Michael "Biggie" MacDonald Jr. collapsed with stab wounds near the bus stop. He died in hospital before his parents had a chance to say goodbye.
An 18-year-old classmate was arrested nearby "within minutes," Durham Regional Police spokesman Dave Selby said.
I sometimes wonder if we're victims of our own success. By which I mean that the wealth of the country has helped us become complacent. Children grow up in a world where they're provided for. And how many times do you see a child believe in their sense of entitlement? It fosters a very self centred greedy personality.
This is the kind of personality that shows disrespect for others, because it's too self centred.
Add to this the apathy of parenthood, with far too much expectation that schools will raise children. And, of course, the supreme rule of political correctness in those schools where "everyone is a victim" is practiced with such vigour. It creates a feedback loop by which the individual ego develops even more.
The availability of guns simply means the altercations are more deadly. Banning them might reduce the deaths, but--sadly--probably wouldn't reduce the incidents. I don't have a problem with gun control, but its not likely to be the real situation.
Amending the YOA may allow society to punish the culprits more, and I don't mind that at all. It doesn't do much to stem the problem. Greater punishment is probably not a deterent to those ignorant of the law in the first place. Though I'd be willing to concede its worth evaluation.
Bottom line is that a reduction in this will only come through education. Preferably from parents! but in the absence of being able to control that situation, some alternative disciplinary methods in schools really ought to be practiced. Schools should not be 'for babysitting' and 'tolerance of all actions'. If you aren't disciplined, you shouldn't be able to attend.
Ron, 2008-09-16 22:52:41
Jim:
Speaking of discipline. When I was a kid disobedience got one a whipping. Besides that, time in the Military during WW2 instilled a respect for authority. As for parents teaching their "achievements" to respect authority and people in general. Perhaps those who "spawned" the criminals in our country were not disciplined in their young days. As the saying goes.."The apple does not fall far from the tree."
khukuri, 2008-09-16 21:33:15
Watch the interviews with the parents of the suspects & the victims. Great job folks. More important lets not forget to thank Our allmighty justice system. Great job folks. It should not be hard to eliminate these loser punks actions. Lets do a greater job folks.
GLENN, 2008-09-16 18:12:06
Jim, 2007-08-16 09:47:49
I love it! You are exactly right, parents do not discipline their kids the same as they used to. I sure don't ever remember hearing about any of this when I was in school. Or anything even close for that manner. What I don't understand is how the parents these days don't believe in a little smack here and there when I know for a fact they got it when they were little. I know I sure did, I remember all to well the sound of a leather belt or a wooden spoon on a bare ass! But, as much as we don't like to admit it, people are becoming wussies when it comes to ethics of being a parent. Nobody wants to be looked at as a bad parent!?! I would much rather be the parent who has a well behaved child then one either with a child in jail or even worse, a child in the ground.
Emily, 2008-09-16 17:41:38
When was the last time your paper printed a good thing some teen did??? Are they more bad or is it bad kids sell papers. For starters if a kid commits a crime with a gun in their had try them as an adult. If they commit bodily harm to another person try them as and adult I don't care if you are 13 or 19. Toss the YOA in these cases.
Mydnite, 2008-09-16 17:31:49
Sure they are its a combination of two things. The education they get from TV, movies, videos, the news and music. This is coupled with the availability of weapons and easier ways to find them through internet chat lines or the internet in general. All products of our free choice society and our get what you want as quickly as possible economic system. Got to take the good with the bad.
wayne, 2008-09-16 15:37:18
I DON'T THINK TEENS ARE GETTING MORE VIOLENT SO MUCH AS EVENTS LIKE THE ONE TODAY SEEM TO BE APPEARING IN THE NEWS MORE THESE DAYS THEN WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, WHICH WASN'T THAT LONG AGO. WITH EASY ACCESS TO WEAPONS AND TEMPERS GOING TO THE EXTREME IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. DALTON McGUINTY HAS SUGGESTED NUMEROUS TIMES THAT HANDGUNS SHOULD BE BANNED AND HE'S RIGHT. BUT THAT'S UNFORTUNATELY WON'T STOP THE PROBLEM, PENALTIES ARE TOO LENIENT AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO INSENTIVE TO NOT COMMIT THIS CRIMES BECAUSE THESE KIDS KNOW THAT THEY ARE PROTECTED UNDER THE YOUNG OFFENDERS ACT. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE SCRAPPED. THESE KIDS KNOW THEIR RIGHTS BETTER THAN THEIR WRONGS AND WITH SONGS AND MOVIES GLORIFYING VIOLENCE, IT ISN'T GOING TO END AND MORE INNOCENT BABIES ARE GOING TO DIE TOO YOUNG. CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE BUT THEN AGAIN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A CITY THAT WAS PREPARED TO ALLOW CERTAIN STUDENTS TO BRING IN DAGGERS SINCE IT WAS PART OF THEIR CULTURE. THE QUESTION THAT SHOULD BE ASKED IS HOW MANY MORE INNOCENT BLOOD HAS TO BE SPILLED BEFORE THE NECESSARY CHANGES GET PUT INTO PLACE?
TRIXIE, 2008-09-16 15:12:31
The vast majority of teens are OK. They may dress and act a little weird, BUT my parents and all parents before them thought the same thing.
It's that tiny minority who terrorize and scare the bejesus out of the average citzen that give teens a bad name.
To blame video games, TV, rock music etc is a cop out folks.
Impart good values to your kids and they'll probably pick up on that. It takes time and patience and discipline....Oh heavens now I've offended somebody out there who thinks "discipline" is a bad thing!!
Jim, 2007-08-16 09:47:49
Where there are some valid comments here about the issue of teens being more violent,I also noticed the disrespect here for your fellow persons. It is part of the reason no one younger has any respect for others.Kids learn what they see and hear.If you are disrespecting others,is that not what you are treaching them also?Remember everytime someone points their finger at someone else,three point back at theirself.
Charlene Smith, 2007-07-17 18:01:36
SGPJ: Like I said annoying and patronizing. I never said you coudn't express your (note YOUR) opinions, We just don't need footnotes on them. And get a real name.lol.
Avenger, 2007-06-11 19:07:59
Are teens getting more violent?
This is the kind of personality that shows disrespect for others, because it's too self centred.
Add to this the apathy of parenthood, with far too much expectation that schools will raise children. And, of course, the supreme rule of political correctness in those schools where "everyone is a victim" is practiced with such vigour. It creates a feedback loop by which the individual ego develops even more.
The availability of guns simply means the altercations are more deadly. Banning them might reduce the deaths, but--sadly--probably wouldn't reduce the incidents. I don't have a problem with gun control, but its not likely to be the real situation.
Amending the YOA may allow society to punish the culprits more, and I don't mind that at all. It doesn't do much to stem the problem. Greater punishment is probably not a deterent to those ignorant of the law in the first place. Though I'd be willing to concede its worth evaluation.
Bottom line is that a reduction in this will only come through education. Preferably from parents! but in the absence of being able to control that situation, some alternative disciplinary methods in schools really ought to be practiced. Schools should not be 'for babysitting' and 'tolerance of all actions'. If you aren't disciplined, you shouldn't be able to attend.
Ron, 2008-09-16 22:52:41
Speaking of discipline. When I was a kid disobedience got one a whipping. Besides that, time in the Military during WW2 instilled a respect for authority. As for parents teaching their "achievements" to respect authority and people in general. Perhaps those who "spawned" the criminals in our country were not disciplined in their young days. As the saying goes.."The apple does not fall far from the tree."
khukuri, 2008-09-16 21:33:15
GLENN, 2008-09-16 18:12:06
I love it! You are exactly right, parents do not discipline their kids the same as they used to. I sure don't ever remember hearing about any of this when I was in school. Or anything even close for that manner. What I don't understand is how the parents these days don't believe in a little smack here and there when I know for a fact they got it when they were little. I know I sure did, I remember all to well the sound of a leather belt or a wooden spoon on a bare ass! But, as much as we don't like to admit it, people are becoming wussies when it comes to ethics of being a parent. Nobody wants to be looked at as a bad parent!?! I would much rather be the parent who has a well behaved child then one either with a child in jail or even worse, a child in the ground.
Emily, 2008-09-16 17:41:38
Mydnite, 2008-09-16 17:31:49
wayne, 2008-09-16 15:37:18
TRIXIE, 2008-09-16 15:12:31
It's that tiny minority who terrorize and scare the bejesus out of the average citzen that give teens a bad name.
To blame video games, TV, rock music etc is a cop out folks.
Impart good values to your kids and they'll probably pick up on that. It takes time and patience and discipline....Oh heavens now I've offended somebody out there who thinks "discipline" is a bad thing!!
Jim, 2007-08-16 09:47:49
Charlene Smith, 2007-07-17 18:01:36
Avenger, 2007-06-11 19:07:59