Key to fighting gangs? Give them no recruits
Recently, I heard Todd Oakley, an associate pastor of Gate City Vineyard, speak at Family Harvest Outreach on West Market Street. I believe he and his wife, Christina, are about to make a difference in the lives of Greensboro youth.
In pointing out the misconceptions we carry concerning how adolescents are influenced, he named media and peers as fifth; significant other older adults, such as aunts, uncles and grandparents, as second; and parents, leading by example, as No. 1. Teachers, band directors, coaches and other youth leaders are more influential in the lives of adolescents than media or peers.
It takes an entire community of people, caring and loving, to raise our children. This couldn't be more crucial in today's world. I believe this is how the gangs in our area will be left without new recruits.
I commend Todd and Christina for the light and love they are shining.
Rose Daniels
High Point
Comments (3)
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Hillary Clinton has been saying "It takes a village..." for years. Why has it taken so long for others to realize this is true?
Posted on February 5, 2008 9:29 AM
Amen, Yvonne. I thank God for the village which helped raise me and my children and now my grandchildren.
Posted on February 5, 2008 11:03 AM
Yvonne & Carol, I see the parents as the "village leaders" when raising a child. The "village" is also neighbors, church, community groups, sports participation, and school. That is the "village" I grew up with. We would go play all day at other kids houses without worry. The only rule was to be home for dinner.
I haven't read Hillary's book (surprised?) and correct me if I'm wrong, but I take it her idea of the village is more govt. IMO, the "village" is not the Federal govt., state govt, or local govts usurping the rights of parents. A perfect example is Portland, ME school board deciding it's ok to offer birth control to minor girls without parental permission. The "village" is not my kids watching cucumber demonstrations in school how to properly put a on condom. The "village" is not the Federal govt. deciding what kind of health care my family can and cannot have.
Your kids are all grown I believe. You probably know I have 6 and 5 year olds. With all the technological advances (sometimes I wonder if they really are) it is more difficult for parents to keep their kids from harm. There is a lot of bad stuff on the Internet and this pathetic pop culture we have become on TV and print.
My son and I can be watching a sports event on TV and we are regularly encountered with ads for upcoming violent films complete with shooting, explosions and profanity. I have to switch channels!
I'm sure it will become harder as they age and are tempted to get into myspace.com and similar dangerous sites. It seems there are more pedophiles around these days or at least the Internet gives them and new avenue to exploit children.
The "village" has changed. Kids can get too intimate with someone 2000 miles away yet not even know the kid who lives next door.
Posted on February 5, 2008 3:34 PM