LETTERS: PARENTS MUST ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY

To the editor:

First of all, I wish to join the many others who regret the passing of the great statesman, Barry Goldwater. I had the privilege of meeting and supporting him in Arizona when he made his bid for president. As a true conservative, he had a great respect for the average person and did not hesitate to speak out whenever his conscience told him to -- the true conscience of a conservative.

I rarely miss reading the Opinion page of the Southeast Missourian. I seldom agree with everything that is said, but is unusual when I feel the need to respond to some of the repetitive opinions that blame everyone but themselves to some of the problems we face today. It is much easier to point the finger of blame than it is to work toward reasonable solutions to these problems.

Marilyn Harrison pointed out some of the problems we have today and blamed everyone but herself or the average parent. She criticized television, Dr. Kevorkian, our judges, our legislators, the president of the United States, homosexuals, doctors, sex education in schools, freedom of speech, pop music and movies. She agreed with the father of Brandon Hazelwood of Jonesboro when he blamed everyone but himself for the way his child was raised. Let's not even suggest that guns themselves could be responsible for those shooting deaths. That thought would be too radical. Children have watched their parents shoot down everything that moves, in many cases illegally, and can't understand why their children have no respect for life.

It is time for parents to assume the responsibility for their children. Parents must show love and discipline, take the time to provide closer supervision and, above all, set a good example of how they would like their children to act.

Every time your child sees you break the law -- run a stop sign or red light, exceed the speed limit, profit by someone else's misfortune, accept too much money in change from a cashier, exhibit road rage, take their sides when you know they were wrong, condone any form of cheating in school or in any other way evade your responsibilities -- you are sending the wrong message to your children. You have taught them to break the law, so you should not be surprised when they do the same.

Remember this the next time you blame your school for your children's problems. They are your children. They live in your house, ride in your car and hopefully go to church with you. They are in school for an education that will, to a great degree, prepare them academically for life in the real world. Their education should be completed in the home where they should be prepared morally for life in the real world.

S.L. HODGE

Cape Girardeau