What the hell wrong with these kids?!

April 27th, 2010 10:16 pm CT

That’s how a “status” started on Facebook a few weeks ago. The comment was posted by a police officer who was getting frustrated with locking kids up and telling them to stay out of trouble, then finding out the kids had several more cases pending.

I thought of this when I read about, “29 arrested after fights near Kirby High School” in the Commercial Appeal (4/27/10). I recognize that “fights” happen, but 29 arrests, including several “adults.” Do you think we have a problem here Memphis?

Psalms 29:15 says, “The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by a neglected child.”(NRSV)

Now, I’m not an advocate for corporal punishment, a few years of Parochial School will change one’s mind on that, but I think people forget the second part of that Scripture: “but a mother [or father] is disgraced by a neglected child.”

One of the Facebook Friends who commented on the above thread spoke about how he has a schedule for his kids, and yes he does discipline them. But the most noticeable comment he made was, “Most children just want attention and to be loved by their parents. It doesn’t even take 2 seconds just to say "I love you.”

That’s powerful stuff! I believe that’s the key.

For some reason, we have shirked our responsibility as a community to our children. When the streets of this City have a stronger draw to our children than the home, or church or school we have a problem. We have neglected our children.

When a spokesperson from Memphis City Schools was asked to comment on the incident involving 29 arrests that started at the end of the Kirby High school day, they basically said they don’t know if any Kirby High students were involved.

Why did I see an image of Pontius Pilot washing his hands as I read this quote?

“It isn’t my responsibility!” We have neglected our children.

Last Saturday night I attended the performance of “Umoja” at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. It was one of the most power presentations and reminders to the “Spirit of Umoja”, the community, of our responsibilities to our children. It was a powerful message, I believe to the adults in the audience to wake up and start acting like community.

The only benefit of our neglect, the washing of our hands, not taking responsibility as a community and acting like real neighbors, is job security for police officers, judges and jailers.