Going down, both sides

“Good morning to you, Good morning to you. We’re all in our places with bright smiling faces…” I think those are the correct words to the song we sang daily in kindergarten. Even if the words are a little off, the concept is seemingly non-existent. With so many societal tragedies happening before their very eyes, especially in schools and with schools, there is no wonder why many of our children are so disconnected. As I rode public transportation a few days ago, I just looked at the expressions on the faces of our children as they traveled on their way to school. The expressions ranged from anger, to forced laughter, to blank stares. Most of the children were connected to some type of electronic device; having little to no interaction with even those they traveled with. Every now and then, you would see an earplug removed, or the volume adjusted in order to respond to something said by the other person, but there was more head bobbing then lip movement. Between the shootings in the school, school closings, and the violence witnessed by them, it really makes one wonder what is going through their minds. I remember what it was like to live in an oblivious condition; wanting it to just be over, but not wanting to hurt myself. Now our children are being forced to enter into neighborhoods that they are not allowed in because those who live there are members (willfully, or not) of a group of people who have marked this as “their territory”. Apparently our city officials, in all their glory, have totally disregarded the realities of life; forgetting that street gangs still exist. There will be more violence. There will be more dropping out. There will be more incarcerations of our children. Oh, forgive me; is that not the reason for the newly built Youth Study Center? It was by design and pre-determined years ago by our officials, but no action was taken by the community to stop it. Again, we have been “hoodwinked and bamboozled”; falling for the “banana in the tailpipe”. If there is ever going to be an end to the destruction of our communities, reliance upon state and local officials must end. We must bring back the “village” concept of community living. In the village we depended on one another to keep our children safe from harm. We depended on one another to support those family members who returned home from prison. We made sure our neighbors ate. We knew each other by first and last name. I was at an event last week when a man walked up behind me and greeted me. After returning the greeting, we talked about how familiar we looked to one another; later determining that we lived next door to one another. After we both embarrassingly laughed it off, it came to me that although we spoke to one another, and even had brief conversations, it was always in passing; we never sat and talked as neighbors used to do. Regardless of the reason, this is consistent in many communities. The “hustle and bustle” of daily living has detached us from one another; no wonder our children are as such today. It has been a couple of months since my children have been over for our monthly dinners together, but how long has it been for you and your family sitting down to eat together as a family? Schedule one today, and even allow them to bring a friend. There may not be an “I” in “team”, but there is one in “unity” and “village”. It begins with me taking the initiative in my home, and so the same with you in your home.