Letter: Inattentive parents reason for much youthful violence

Friday, Dec. 10, 1999 | 8:52 a.m.

As the country looks for an answer as to why another shooting occurred in a school, let's look at the obvious -- some cause and effect: In the 1950s, '60s and part of the '70s, television was innocent and wholesome for the most part. Mom was at home caring for, and nurturing, the children. Then in the '70s, Mom's went to work, latchkey kids came home to empty houses and were unsupervised.

In the '80s the trend continued. Movies and television became more violent. In this decade, video games and virtual reality continued with simulated violence. The criminal justice system also fell apart as perpetrators were given more rights than victims.

Children are now desensitized. Their fragile minds have been permanently altered and, as a result, our society has created narcissistic sociopaths. The knee-jerk reaction is to treat symptoms and prescribe drugs to control the children as they act out.

The irresponsible media sensationalizes the acts of violence and copy cats are born. These acts of violence should be limited to print.

It's not the fault of guns. It is the consequence of a free society and the result of parents uninvolved in raising and supervising their children appropriately.

This country has become one that minimizes the importance of a parent's role and rights in raising their children. This is evident as the U.S. has now kidnapped the Cuban refugee, 5-year-old Elian Gonzalez. Both the father's and the child's rights are being completely violated.

If the "village" is raising our children, maybe the "village" should assume responsibility when children commit such crimes.

AL DI CICCO Director, Coalition for Family Court Reform