INVOLVED

DID YOU EVER WATCH MEN (YOUNG AND OLD) STANDING AROUND A MOTORIZED VEHICLE (WHICH MIGHT EVEN BE DEAD)? THEY RESEMBLE BEES SWARMING AROUND THEIR QUEEN. THEY ARE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THEIR HONEY'S WELL BEING. A LAWYER INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE CRIMINAL COURT SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES SAID THAT PARENTS SHOULD STAY INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES. UNLIKE 'CAR NUTS', MANY PARENTS CANNOT BE COUNTED ON TO ACT FOR THE GOOD OF THEIR DEPENDENTS. THIS CONCERNED LAWYER ALSO OBSERVED THAT PARENTS PATRONIZE OR DEFEND A CHILD'S DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR, EXHIBIT DISINTEREST IN THE CHILD OR DEMONSTRATE NO PROPER PARENTING. FURTHERMORE, SHE WARNED THAT HOMES, 'BROKEN HOMES,' WITHOUT MARRIED PARENTS ARE STATISTICALLY MORE LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER PROBLEMS WITH CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.

THERE IS NOTHING SHOCKING ABOUT THESE FACTS ABOUT OUR MORAL CULTURE. CHILDREN DO GO ASTRAY (SOMETIMES IN THE BEST PARENTED HOMES). BUT WHEN CHILDREN WHO HAVE GROWN INTO ADULTHOOD GO 'OFF THE RESERVATION' LIKE ROSIE O'DONNELL, MADONNA, CHARLOTTE CHURCH AND BRITTANY SPEARS, AMERICANS SHOULD ASK, "WHERE WAS THE PROPER, PRIOR PARENTING?" WE TEND TO OBSERVE SUCH LOSERS, PERHAPS DECRY THEM, BUT ULTIMATELY WE LOOK THE OTHER WAY.

HINT: WHAT DO WE EXPECT TO SEE IN FUTURE GENERATIONS OF UNPARENTED CHILDREN IF WE TURN AWAY?