News and Society -Crime News Blog: Shattering Cycles of Violence

Once again, we've been knocked asunder with news about another high school shooting. What is the answer? Anger seems to be on the rampage in our society, especially in adolescents. Perhaps we need to take a many pronged approach to this situation. Let's consider several possibilities.

1. Reduce violence in the media. Since the 1980's, killings, rampant sex, and explicit horror have all proliferated in TV programs. Horrific portrayal of hideous acts have increased exponentially.Videos and cable were coming into their prime, and censorship of TV programs began to go by different rules in an effort to compete. As a result, more and more violence and sex began to show up on television. We've had a whole generation exposed to escalating levels of aggressive acts and sexual promiscuity. They've become desensitized to human suffering and to basic morality. Adding injury to insult, the portrayal of horrible acts has become more and more blatant and offensive. One can hardly turn on the television without witnessing the worst kind of visceral horror. Skeletons are blackened with days of decay; blood abounds everywhere; and our senses are slayed with escalating levels of heartless actions.

2. Enforce stricter gun control. But I don't think this is the only answer. We need to reach troubled youth with heart and spirit changing beliefs. Young boys in particular tend to become disenfranchised when their lives are ripped apart. Make every effort to address issues of anger and shame in our young people. Boys tend to act out their anger. Girls turn in inward. Both are extremely detrimental.

3. Get back to spiritual basics. Statistics show that church attendance is at an all-time low. In Europe, two percent of the population attends church regularly. Spiritual institutions are kept open for tourists, not residents! This is sad. In 1991, weekly church attendance was at 49%. Today it's at 40%. There may be a direct correlation between the decline in spiritual activities and crime. This is debatable at best, but the lack of conscience formation may be a factor.

4. Get young people involved in wholesome activities. Sports, music lessons, dance lessons, and karate all come to mind.

5. Do everything to steer young people away from addictions. Get them involved in anti-drug programs. Talk to them routinely about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Chemical dependencies cause huge problems in individuals, families, and communities.

Readers, I welcome additional ideas.

I'm Barbara Altman
Raised in an alcoholic home, I became depressed and riddled with anxiety at an early age. In an effort to build a good life, I turned to my love of classical music for comfort, financial resources, and a place in the community. Over the years, I have dealt with depression in a variety of ways, from counseling to alternative and traditional healing modalities. One of the purposes in my life is to convey hope to those who have suffered from depression and I hope to do this in my writings and in speaking engagements.

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