Most of you know I live in New Zealand. It’s a small country of 4 million people. This year, the news has been dominated by murder. We’ve had ten murders in our country this year, and it’s all people are talking about at the moment. Seven of the ten murders have been solved with the perpetrator caught. The worrying part is that six of the crimes have been against women and most of those killed and many of the accused are young, in some cases under sixteen. Two of the crimes have taken place very close to where I live and both men who died were young. Too young.
As you can imagine, there’s discussion everywhere, so much discussion that police have come out with an unprecedented statement where they say this number of murders is not unusual due to the time of the year, the financial strain and pressure on families and of course, alcohol.
Huh? That was my first reaction. I’m appalled by our latest statistics and the waste of life. As I mentioned, both people murdered in my area were young. One was at university and was working at his parents’ store. He was knifed by a sixteen-year-old who appears to have been on drugs. The attack was unprovoked. The second victim was a fifteen-year-old. He was caught tagging a fence at 11pm. It appears that the fifty-year-old man who caught him was so incensed he attacked him with a knife.
Yeah, I’m appalled at these murders and think any murder is one too many. I don’t care what the police say. The problem is how do we stop this senseless violence? Many people are placing the blame on the government. I don’t know. I realize we don’t live in a perfect world but wonder if perhaps part of the problem in some cases is the breakdown of the family unit. It’s a hard question since so many factors come into the equation. I really don’t know the answer.
What do you think is the answer? How do we stop this senseless waste of life in our communities?
I don’t think it has to do with the government. I live in Puerto Rico, a small island with almost 4 million living in it. We’re going through the same thing. I blame it on the times. Lack of moral values and respect. Problems with the family nucleus. Economical problems.
IMHO I blame it on the raising of the kids. Parents give them whatever the kids ask - Playstations, iPods, etc. - thinking that their kids shouldn’t go through the lacking times they did when they were young. Well, those tough times build character, you know. It made you work for what you wanted. And with work, I mean literally go out and get a job. It taught you that money didn’t grow on trees. Made you appreciate things more.
I don’t think it has to do with the violence on TV and movies. There has always been violence. Look at those 50s movies depicting gangs and drugs. There’s nothing new with that.
by Tempest Knight January 28th, 2008 at 10:39 amTempest - My nieces and nephews are given just about everything they want. So are most of the kids I know. And you’re right. They don’t appreciate the advantages and take them for granted. Many of the youngsters I know think nothing of giving up a job, just because they want to go somewhere that clashes with work or had a bad day. I’m sure not all kids are like that but it seems that many are. They never save money but live from week to week.
We have a big gang problem and many gangs make money by pushing drugs. This creates a cycle of violence, although none of the recent deaths seem to be gang related.
Last year we had 8 murders for January. Judging by the stats they showed on the news this number has steadily increased with our present record of 10.
It’s interesting Puerto Rico is going through the same troubles with lack of moral values and respect.
by Shelley Munro January 28th, 2008 at 11:16 amIf parents and schools were allowed to discipline children, I think things would be different .
by Estella January 28th, 2008 at 2:05 pmLast year we had what is called the anti-smacking law brought in over here. It was meant to prevent child abuse. Since the law came into force we’ve had several really horrific child abuse cases and several good parents have been prosecuted for what amounts to a tap on the butt of their child. Politics gone mad. I can’t wait to vote in our elections this year!
by Shelley Munro January 28th, 2008 at 4:42 pmHonestly, I’m so confused with all the crap that seems to be going on these days. I’m made to feel that I’m a bad parent because I don’t give my kids whatever they want. On occasion I don’t even *gasp* give them dessert! I think they’ll survive.
The big saying in my house is “just because you can have something, doesn’t mean you should.”
by Christine d'Abo January 28th, 2008 at 5:48 pmI really don’t know Shelley. Being in a larger country … I don’t know how many people, and growing up near a City where there were so many drive by shootings etc., I really don’t know what to tell you.
It scares me to think of my children being at risk. I mean 2006 a young girl was shot and killed on boxing day because she just happened to be in the way.
My brother is a correctional officer and I reel every time he tells me about his days at work.
it’s just so sad.
by Amy Ruttan January 28th, 2008 at 6:22 pmI believe that we must do what we can in our own neighborhood. There’s no way to solve global problems with one person.
by Jennifer McKenzie January 28th, 2008 at 9:08 pmMost people throw up their hands and toss money at some charity in the vain hope they can make a difference.
Does the local school have a mentor program? Big Brother Big Sister? How about just speaking at an assembly to inspire kids to something other than violence for their future.
That’s what I do. My little tiny bit in my little tiny world.
Enough of us do THAT and we can move mountains. IMHO.
Jennifer - yes, that’s what a lot of the discussion has been about today. We don’t have a Big Brother, Big Sister program over here, but something like that would work well. A lot of our sportstars do speaking programs at schools etc though.
by Shelley Munro January 29th, 2008 at 12:00 amWe’re more disconnected and isolated from one another than at any other time in history. You can see it daily as people talk on cell phones instead of talking to the people they’re with.
Used to be that you depended on the people around you for survival. Now, we’re isolated in big cities or by technology. Not all technology is bad. It’s just how some folks use it to escape reality.
by N.J. Walters January 30th, 2008 at 5:46 pm