Lay cultural degeneration at the feet of the greedy
Lay cultural degeneration at the feet of the greedy
EDITOR:
I remember when anyone could walk anywhere, any time, without fear and be safe. No streets were off limits.
I remember when people were far more considerate and respectful. Certainly, they were more responsible, less materialistic and greedy.
I remember when there was less crime and violence. When I was a kid we fought with our fists, not weapons.
I remember when art was a beauty to behold and music, both pleasant and soothing, with lyrics that were far from vulgar and shameful.
I remember when if you were a drug addict, you were one of a few weird individuals referred to as a "dope fiend."
I remember when movies depended on an intelligent plot with interesting dialogue and communication between the characters and did not have violence and vulgarity graphically and shamelessly displayed. This so-called "action" is thoughtless and feeds already frenzied, frustrated minds to make them more so.
I could go on remembering, but I think I made my point. Now I want to speculate on why all this has come upon us. Overall, the lack of values has afflicted far too many in our society, contributing to a degenerate culture where crimes and gross misdeeds are not merely isolated cases but quite widespread and almost futile to deal with.
Let's go a little deeper and seek the cause or causes of the lack of values.
The widespread use of harmful drugs is much to blame. Since the profit from drugs is so great, I doubt that an effective war against them will be waged.
Also, so-called art, which is nothing more than decadent pornography, and noise pollution, erroneously called music by some, does not help matters. Let's not forget the movies filled with meaningless destruction and filth.
These are all the products of greedy and seedy minds, who believe in the motto, "Anything for a dollar." These same minds could contribute to the uplifting and cultivation of impressionable young minds rather than their degeneration. But, no. To them, the dollar comes first.
Finally, and possibly the most important factor of all, is family unity. But then, you must first have family formation before you can have unity.
Our culture cannot afford too many frenzied minds, cluttered with violent confusion and incapable of visions of beauty and glory. Clear thinking and serene minds are a must for all things to be better.
FRANK C. SOHAIBY
Austintown
Parents can only do so much with school work
EDITOR:
Can the teachers in the Youngstown school system as well as Canfield and Poland help me to understand what is going on. Why do children today have such a difficult time learning? Why do they need state of the art classrooms? Is that where Abe Lincoln learned to read and write?
Children are sponges, they can learn anywhere.
I am told that the unruly children disrupt the classes. Why are they not punished?
Thirty years ago, when I was in the fifth grade, teachers taught, children listened and learned. Misbehavior was not tolerated, and we knew it.
I remember doing outlines and book reports. My son doesn't do book reports. Why? Outlining helps you to think things through. I may not have enjoyed learning outlines and diagramming sentences but I did it and I am a better person.
My son's teachers advise me to assign writing assignments to him at home. I will be honest. I don't understand why after a long day at work, grocery shopping, making dinner, doing laundry, dishes, trying to figure out how to pay the gas bill I have to assign homework.
Why wasn't it assigned in school?
I was not trained to be a teacher and am very frustrated that my child's nights as well as days are filled with school work and he is still no further ahead.
I can't be the only frustrated parent who doesn't understand why their child can't learn when the parents could.
DONNA ZARLENGO
Youngstown