"Twelve Wounded,

One Dead"

One would expect to see this headline in a newspaper and the following story relating to the War on Terror in Afghanistan.

Unfortunately this could be the headline in the Macon, Georgia U.S.A. Newspaper relating to the shootings and the one death over the past three weeks.

As you can suspect, everyone is trying to resolve the problem and correct the matter.  Everyone has an opinion on what needs to be done and almost everyone knows who is to blame for the current situation.  Education, One Parent Families, Poverty and a list of  other causes have been discussed in the local media.  All of the elected officials are discussing ways to resolve the issue.

So, today the Flower Child will post a few thoughts on this tragic situation.  Sin has been in our World since Eve and Adam thought they could gain all knowledge if they but ate of the apple.  We have all heard of how one of their Sons murdered his own Sibling.  So killing and sin are not new.  What is new is the level of activity we are currently experiencing in Macon, Georgia, and yes, to some degree, Middle Georgia.

We all know that our Congressional District is the most obese, least educated and stricken with poverty.  Georgia ranks near the bottom in educational achievement of it's Scholars.  Georgia ranks as one of the poorest States in the U. S. A.  The list goes on and on.

So you may wonder why!!!!   As I stated above Sin has been with us for generations.  So, what has caused the current emphasis on killing, shooting, and other crimes against our fellow peoplekind?

I will confine my remarks to events that have happened in my life time.  There are many reasons as to why we as a Society are suffering today:

1. We eliminated the Military Draft.  Our Young People no longer have to be responsible for the defense of our great Country.  Volunteers currently defend us all.
2. We have allowed the nuclear family to be discarded.  It is no longer considered shameful to be born out of wedlock.
3. We have encouraged the development of "Single Parent Families" with our Welfare Laws.  Admittedly emphasis in the late 90s and early 10s cut the welfare to people and required them to get a job.
4. We have become so politically correct that we no longer as a Society have expectations of our Scholars.  We allow far too much liberty in our standards within our Education System. 
5. I often recall what a U. S. Navy Skipper told us when we complained about our freedoms as a military unit.  We were informed that we were to defend democracy, not practice it.
6. I am also aware that far too many regard "freedom" as a situation where citizens can do anything they desire.  Our Society has become so self centered that the good of the Society/Community is no longer a valid goal for far too many people.
7. The "I" generation or the "Me" generation; whatever you desire to call it eliminates the need to consider the impact of a persons actions.  As long as the person gets what they desire or want there is no need to consider the impact on fellowpeople kind.
8. Our duly elected leaders place great emphasis on personal gain.  They no longer understand the concept of "Servant Leadership."  Far to many National leaders appear to be in Congress for the life time pensions they will receive when they are no longer elected.
9. Our local elected leaders appear in far too many cases appear to be so self centered that they no longer consider the good of the electorate.  As long as they can serve and draw a check made possible by the citizens they will use any available resource to remain in their positions of power.
10. Unfortunately the concept that leaders of all levels need to lead by example is ignored.  It appears that far too many leaders have adopted the mantra "Do as I say, Not as I do."
11. Our young people are seeking a life.  They desire to be on a team, yet our adult Society has provided far too few role models who can be dynamic examples.
12. Our young people are emulating the antics of far too many adults who conduct themselves in an improper manner in the various "Social Media" outlets that are available to everyone.
13. Our young people have learned that there are no expectations of them.  As long as they can be happy, which is their goal there is nothing to strive for.
14. Our young people have not considered the consequences of their youthful actions.  This is caused in part by the consequences that our Society puts on our Leaders and other Adults who mess up and receive little or no discipline/consequences. 
15. Far too often our elected leaders conduct their personal lives in such a manner that they are not demonstrating appropriate moral examples for anyone to emulate.
16. Our young people are quick to learn from what they observe around them.  Our government has provided far too many resources as a safety net to require far too many to be able to support themselves.  Now, before you jump all over the "Flower Child" because of that statement, please remember that I served in our Military.  I did not acquire a wife or children until I was an E-5.  We were advised not to become family people until we could at least make a reasonable standard of living because of our low pay in the lower pay grades.
17. Our young people think that they deserve everything their parents currently have.  They do not understand that you have to start with less and learn to live within limited means until the jobs/promotions allow a higher standard of living.
18. Far too many young people think that we as a Society owe them a living.  Unfortunately this concept has become ingrained in far too many adults.
19. We as a Society have become so involved in being Politically Correct that we really have no standards to impose on our Youth.  After all, we do not offend anyone.  Everyone should be able to do what they want/desire to do.  No longer is the impact of anyones  personal actions considered.  As long as the self, I/Me achieves the wants there is no need to even consider the impact on the Community/Society.
20. As a Society we have set a new standard.  It is now legal to kill infants in the womb.  I would suggest that there are young people who know this.  We as adults have clearly demonstrated that to murder an unborn baby is now legal.  So what is the big deal with shooting anyone who crosses our path?
21. It is no longer necessary to respect authority.  Every child who has ever rode an an automobile sees on a daily basis how adults ignore speed limits and other rules of the road.  I suspect that our young people quickly learn that I can break the laws just as long as I do not get caught.  Or they learn that speeding, etc. is O.K. along as no one else is harmed.
22. We adults have done a terrible job of modeling appropriate behavior for our young to emulate.
23. Of course the list could go on and on; but I suspect that you can comprehend what I am talking about here.

As a Society we need to come to grips with the fact that we must all work as a Team to improve our situation.  We all need to realize the we all share in the outcome/success of any attempt we embrace to stop the shooting, killing and other crimes against each other.

As a Society we need to realize that Team work is vital.  As I recently read in the comprehensive article about the deceased Southwest High School Basketball Coach, "Duck" Don Richardson; to a person, anyone who played on his teams knew what the expectations were and they all stated that his efforts paid off in their respective lives. 

I gathered from this article about "Duck" that everyone needs a morale compass to insure appropriate development as a young person to a responsible Citizen and an Adult in our Society.

Unfortunately, there are not enough Coach "Duck" Don Richardson's available today.  Our Educators, Parents and Religious Leaders are too involved being  a "Friend" to really have a valid impact on anyone.

If We Do Not Stand Up Now For What Is Right And Proper, We Will Continue To Achieve The Results We Are Currently Experiencing.

We Need, As I Am Sure You Will Agree, Strong Leaders Who Can Set The Standards, Who Can Lead By Example So That Our Youth Can See And Also Respect.

In addition to the Prayers of all to assist in the resolution of our problems; we need to all be "Shining Examples of Morale Character" so that our youth can emulate appropriate behavior. 

No longer do we need the parent who is irresponsible, the elected leader who is self centered, or the educator who is not personally involved with the scholars or religious leaders who do not want to offend anyone.  Yes, Leadership is required.