The Youth of Today

I was reading the local paper in my lunch half-hour today, just flicking through really to while away the minutes until I could go back to doing my job (because it's such an exciting and invigorating job!). There was a letter from a girl who was replying to one published the previous week which I remember reading from a lady who was basically complaining about the 'Youth of Today'. This girl was sixteen, and was quite rightly pointing out to everyone that it is not the majority of youths that cause problems and vandalise property, but a very small minority. She also put forward a very valid point indeed: That everyone is born into the world helpless, and that we are shaped into the people we become by looking up to our supposed elders and betters, basically, that no matter how hard the older generations complain about the behaviour of younger generations, it is ultimately their responsibility for the examples they have set and the way they have brought up their children. I know other factors are heavily involved in how people develop and howthey 'turn out', but this letter struck a chord with me and I found myself agreeing with a lot of what the girl said. The younger generations get blamed for a lot of ills in the world, and a lot of what they take the rap for isn't necessarily their (our) fault. I do think that maybe the blame lies somewhere in between. I see a lot of children (working in retail as I do) who have little or no manners, and no respect for property or person. Invariably the parents of these children have no disciplinary skills, they let their children run riot, if the child wants sweets and the mother or father says 'no', the child will pester the parent until he or she gives in. Equally tho I see parents who rule over their children with an 'iron rod' of swearing and threats. I cringe when I hear parents screaming at their children, I know my mum never had to scream at me, a quiet word and a look was enough to know that I'd done wrong. I think that there is a middle road when it comes to parenting, don't get me wrong, most parents do a fantastic job, and it is only the minority that I am talking about here, I know that I couldn't do it, certainly not yet, probably not ever. I also think that as each generation grows up and produces their own kids, they think 'I'm not going to treat my kids the way my mum and dad treated me.' I know I did when I was about 16 or so. I have grown up a lot since then and I realise the need for disipline. If I do ever have children I will try my hardest to bring them up with manners, and a respect for people and property.