Is This the Future for Our Country’s Youth?

I recently had one of those moments that made me wonder and worry about our area's youth, and the entire country for that matter. Is this really the direction the young people of America are heading?

Last night I was driving the K-Country Cruiser back from an event, and I had to stop for a traffic light in downtown Waterloo. Three kids started walking in the crosswalk right in front of the station vehicle. I'm guessing the girl was about 18 years old, while the two boys were between 7-10.

They suddenly stopped right in front of the K-Country Cruiser. The girl started hollering at me to put her on the air right now. The two boys danced in front of the vehicle as if they were daring me to try and drive forward. Then all three started yelling things I that could not make out.

They eventual went on their 'challenge the world' way. I parked the vehicle, and climbed into my personal vehicle to head home. Five blocks down the road, I came across the same trio, and once again there was a caviler display.

This time one of the young boys had one foot on the sidewalk and the other on the street. His arms we spread wide, and his hands challenge me to come at him with my car.

I couldn't help but think about that mom that grabbed her 16-year-old son on live TV when she spotted him contributing to the rioting that has overtaken the Baltimore. Toya Graham became a instant sensation after that.

Now I'm smart enough to realize that kids will eventually make their own decisions. Right or wrong they will do what they want, but is society doing enough to teach them right from wrong.

According to the reports coming out of Baltimore, a majority of the rioting, looting, and destruction of property (all afternoon and all night) was initiated by school aged children. This is not the first time I've read these types of reports, so it makes me wonder if we as a society are doing enough to guide the youth of America down the path to a smarter future.

Maybe we should start with the word 'stewardship'.

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