Littleton Killings: Who is to Blame?
Father,Could you give us your thoughts on the Littleton , Colorado
situation?
I think the media is missing the boat and blaming everyone
from society to
the parents to lack of gun control, to the kids. My own
opinion is that it
goes back to core values and the teaching of ( or lack of
teaching)those
values we call the 10 Commandments and everything that results
from them.
And I don't mean to over simplify it, because I don't believe it's
just one
thing that caused this horrible situation. But I can't help but
believe
that
had we ( and I means we as a whole nation and society) has
taken the
precautions by leaving in place the basic values that we need as a
society
so that everyone can live, that this situation could have been
avoided.
I feel we have allowed ourselves to be persuaded by people(
though well
intentioned) to back off from our values and not impose them on
our
children. I can remember at an open house at my daughter's school
one
parent
telling the teacher that her son should not have to live by the
class rules
of proper behavior because it would inhibit him. And they were
common sense
rules - don't take others property, no fighting, no speaking
during quiet
hour, take turns, etc. All those rules stem from the 10
commandments in one
way or another.
Thanks,
Deb
**********
Dear Deb,
Thank you for your e-mail and important question. I do
have a lot of thoughts about the killings in Littleton, many along the
lines you indicate. I tried to express some of them in my short homily,
Where are the Shepherds?
You hinted at the basic problem in our fear of "imposing" upon
children. We have been afriad of damaging "self esteem." Some people
even blamed the massacre on those boys' low self esteem caused by others making
fun of them. This has become a knee jerk reaction. If a girl gets
pregnant, it is because of her low self-esteem. If a boy takes drugs, once
again, low self esteem.
The truth is everyone has low self esteem, even Bill Gates or
Bill Clinton. It's part of our human condition. Our job as adults
should be to help our children understand why. That is where Jesus comes
in. Before him we recognize not only that we are totally dependent creatures,
but that we have turned against our Creator. In a word we are sinners and
our situation is hopeless apart from Jesus. At that point some real esteem
can enter our hearts, not because we are so great or so lovable, but that we
have been gratituously loved.
Does this make some sense to you, Deb? I'm not saying we
should put anyone down or allow children to make fun of each other. But
when we are brought down, we need to see it as an opportunity for true insight,
humility. And to teach that path to our children.
God bless,