Some 20 years ago I wrote an editorial entitled “It Takes a Village,” from the theme, “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child.” Although the theory remains hotly debated, it has since taken even new dimensions.
To hear the tales of many “old-timers” who relate how teachers and even neighbors and relatives all had free access to punish any child for bad behavior observed, and upon reporting it to the parents, would get another “whooping” from them!
History will support the theory that in small villages, townships and other more rural areas it literally took the village to raise the child. How foreign, yet preferable the theory that forbids physical punishment of today’s infants and children who are instead exposed early in life to highly suggestive regular TV shows, obscene videos, and vulgar loud, music blasting from boom-boxes, and with free access to anything and everything on the internet that they can access better than adults. No matter how good the parental upbringing, it takes a mighty strong spiritual child to survive the trappings of today’s advanced technological “village.” Only in your more metropolitan big cities is the “see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing” theory more likely to exist.
There are, however, always extenuating circumstances where parents (or a parent) for whatever reason, may be incapable of providing the strong, spiritual guidance and example needed to properly galvanize the child from outer influences. Rather than serving as mere judges, it would be far preferable that “the village” offer supportive alternatives to help youth rearrange priorities and offer hope to the hopeless. It is through such hopelessness that drug dealers are infiltrating our streets and neighborhoods once perceived to be safe havens.
Also more frequently in the news today are incidents of youths and adults in perceived “safe” middle/upperclass neighborhoods shooting and killing one another which has courts, legislators, the media and the general public searching for answers or for some legislation to enact to remedy the problem. But you can’t legislate morality, spirituality, love and/or true concern. It takes a village– a combination of caring individuals and organizations including churches–of all denominations, of no particular denomination; of parents, teachers (current and especially retired); and a pooling of neighborhood efforts involving youth and current youth leaders in particular
Roanoke has more than its share of competent and caring leadership (past and present). Lets pool recourses and put this beautiful Roanoke Village back on the map that one tiny Chinese Lady (Pearl Fu) taught us how to do–across every divide. (Investigate and participate!)
