With the news of the terrible tragedy out of Florida, people are angry and disillusioned. Another school shooting killing 17 people has occurred and the youth are pushing for stronger gun laws. There has been much discussion on all social media of whether it’s better for our country to take away our guns. But as many have pointed out, it’s not the guns that kill people, its people who kill people.
There are so many ways our own people have been dying in this country. As studies show the abortion, tobacco, alcohol, suicide, drunk driving, poisoning, and drug abuse (including prescriptions) all have a higher death rate before those who have been killed by guns. Although one gun death is one too many, we must encourage ourselves to live with kindness and connect ourselves to our families.
Through all types of entertainment, our society has become desensitized to violence. Parents and children are not communicating. Those youth who feel no tie to their family are a danger to themselves and others. We see how our own culture and the welfare of our children have been affected by these terrible shootings.
From Kelly Guthrie Raley, who was named Middle School Teacher of the Year last month in Florida says this: ““Until we, as a country, are willing to get serious and talk about mental health issues, lack of available care for the mental health issues, lack of discipline in the home, horrendous lack of parental support when the schools are trying to control horrible behavior at school (oh no! Not MY KID. What did YOU do to cause my kid to react that way?), lack of moral values, and yes, I’ll say it – violent video games that take away all sensitivity to ANY compassion for others’ lives – as well as reality TV that makes it commonplace for people to constantly scream up in each other’s faces and not value any other person but themselves, we will have a gun problem in school.”
We have seen the writing on the wall so many times from the violence, bullying and the attitude of disrespect in youth. There is an alarming disconnect from parents to their children which has been rising for the last 30 years.
Native American Fatherhood and Families (NAFFA) believes that the family is the heart of our country. There is no other work more important than fatherhood and motherhood. Fathers, in partnership with mothers, must take the lead in making the necessary adjustments to head in a new direction with correct information based on true and proven principles.
With more attentive parents raising children with limited video play, prohibiting of “R” rated movies, and encouragement for reading, board game play and out door time, our society won’t be perfect but the issues we are dealing with today would be much less.
There is such a great need for connection in the family. We need parents to care about their children. We need kindness, fairness, appreciation, and laughter along with the feeling of safety in our homes. The home should be a place for positive communication.
We are in a great battle against the forces of evil and we must heed the war cry of caring and trusting parents. This would be a great blessing to our nation.