We live in a society where 12 & 13 year olds are robbing and beating the elderly – for fun. Not even because they needed the money; they are just looking for a way to have fun. How we have failed the next generation as parents when this is looked at as, “oh well…, it happens”. The next generation are the future leaders and decision-makers of our country. They’re not growing up Canadian; they’re growing up empty. The newest virtue is apathy.

Reading those newspaper stories I am reminded of Michael Thrasher’s words and the responsibility we have of helping our children to grow up Canadian.

There was a time that our hearts would leap at the cry of the voice of Humanity. Closer to my home, in prison that is, I can see the end of public compassion. Just 25 years ago Claire Culhane would speak out against the dehumanizing of prisoners and demand that we, the public, actually see them. Work to accept them, and accept the concept of rehabilitation, to embrace the idea of prisoners coming back into society as people.

It was at that time Canada abolished the death penalty (1977). While there were many good arguments why they should, the bottom line was that we would rather have to live with more guys in prison, than accept the possibility of somehow, just maybe killing that one prisoner who was innocent. Canadians had too much respect and compassion towards humanity to allow for the possibility of executing an innocent person, so it was abolished. Now, just a quarter century later, during the last federal election, I read in some of the “Party Platforms” that they want to bring the death sentence back. Seems they just can’t stand paying taxes to house all those prisoners. Society has become more concerned with what you can do for me, than with what I can do for you.

Remember when families left their front doors unlocked? Children played in the street blissfully unaware of the evils man is capable of. I remember “block parties” where all the families on a street got together for a BBQ and games, fun and love. It was because Bill knew Tom, and John, and Jeff. But more important than just knowing the names of your neighbors, people were friends with their neighbors. There was a connection to the lives of the people around them. Seems like now the only notice we take of our neighbors is to see if my car is better than his.