Legacy for our children: violence or harmony?

Abstract

Every now and then I try to look at the world from the vantage point of the typical child in our society. How do children view our conduct in world affairs, for example? Are the youths of Boston, Baltimore, and Boise aware of the slaughter of their counterparts in Bosnia? What about violence closer to home? Do young people understand why guns have proliferated in our schools and on our streets? I were a child in America today, I would feel helpless in the face of the random anger, the ethnic hostilities, and the rash actions that have increasingly come to characterize our culture. I would also feel hopeless about the apparent inability of the adults, those nominally in power, to quell the tide of disruption.When I reflect upon these matters, I often wonder if I would prefer living in another society, one in which safety and security were guaranteed. A recent case in the news concerns Singapore, a society which--in contrast to our own--cherishes principles of law and order above principles of individual expression. The celebrated case I refer to involves an American adolescent living in Singapore with his mother and stepfather. In an alleged spree of misbehavior, the young man vandalized some cars by spray-painting them with graffiti. was arrested and convicted; the judge's sentence included a prison term of one month and a Until the case was publicized in this country, most of us were unfamiliar with caning as a form of punishment. In Asian society, however, a caning is far more than an episode of corporeal discipline of the type administered to a naughty schoolboy. Rather, canings are vicious beatings against the bare flesh. The caning is performed by a martial arts expert; it is not unusual for the accused to go into shock or to fall unconscious as a result of the blows.Yet, despite the physical brutality associated with this form of punishment, public opinion polls in this country revealed that most Americans vigorously supported the caning. He deserves it! If he can't stand it, he shouldn't have committed the crime! You can be sure he'll never spraypaint another car again! are among the most prevalent sentiments voiced by Americans.Many commentators were initially shocked at this response. Few expressions of compassion for the boy were to be found among the vitriolic and, indeed, often vengeful opinions voiced by this young man's fellow citizens. I was intrigued by this response. Why were we so eager to condemn a young man--just a few years beyond the innocence of childhood--to such a cruel fate?I began to understand this reaction when I took a candid look at our society. In many ways we have become hypocrites--especially when it comes to our children. On the one hand, we tell our children that they should come first, that they will inherit our world and that all our labors are ultimately for their benefit. On the other, all too often we fail to practice what we preach. we genuinely cherished our children, why do we find schools, playgrounds, and parks in disrepair, while private health clubs and resorts for wealthy adults flourish? And how can we admonish children to visit libraries when statistics indicate that the average American does not read even one book each year! More telling is our casual attitude about violence. Examples of indifference to the integrity of our fellow human beings abound. …