by Joseph Whalen

Created on: September 30, 2009

Blaming movies and music for the way that kids act today is another sign of the direction our society is headed. There is an overwhelming sense of entitlement in our society that threatens to take over everything that we hold dear. Couple with this plaque of entitlement is a complete lack of responsibilities for our actions. We are quick to acknowledge the problems of the world but equally quick to point the finger at someone besides ourselves as being the cause of those problems. We as a society believe we are entitled to all of the benefits of the roles we play but are unwilling to accept the responsibilities that are associated with those roles.

In the case of why our children act the way they do the role we play is that of parent, mentor, teacher, guide and disciplinarian. We expect the benefits these roles provide but we refuse to accept the responsibilities or the consequences associated with the roles. Instead we are content to let the school system or the government dictates how our children should be raised and educated. New laws are constantly entering our system that take more responsibilities away from the parents and give more power of parenting to the state. Given the sad state of affairs the local, state and federal governments operate within this country it's frightening to think we are letting the government raise our children.

Unfortunately the benefit of freeing ourselves of the obligations and responsibilities of parenthood seem to outweigh any detriment people see in this scheme. Whenever our children behave badly we can always blame that bad behavior on someone else. Either a failed school system or inept government agency is to blame when our children are robbing convenience stores or otherwise breaking the law. It's the fault of the music industry and the latest blockbuster movie that my child shows no respect to anyone, lives like a pig and swears like a sailor. None of the poor habits my son exhibits is my fault, I'm a good parent I let everyone else raise my child just like society wants me to.

This sense of entitlement and lack of responsibility stretches far beyond the reach of just how our children behave. Our justice system is far more concerned with the rights of criminals than those of the victim. Our penal system is focused on rehabilitating habitual offenders rather than punishing those who break the law and serving as a deterrent to others contemplating the same transgressions. All of this leads to degradation of society

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