Today's news had a number of stories about teens and young adults acting in dangerous, uncivil ways. This kind of behavior hurts both victim and perpetrator. How can we end such poor, dangerous and sometimes deadly behavior--what can we do?
In too many pockets of society, incivility is acceptable, and this lack of good behavior spreads easily to children and others. When we too readily accept poor behavior in children, ourselves and others we weaken our society, potential and good living substantially. What can we do?
Check our own behavior
It may be that many of us have succumbed to less than desirable behavior with the words we use, actions we engage in and relationships we enoy. Before we can point a finger at others, we have to make sure our own behavior is respectful, caring and civil in all ways.
Do not accept poor behavior in others
This is not always easy since some of those who we have loved and cared for over time may exhibit poor behavior and there may also be differences of opinion as to what is good behavior amongst those we connect to regularly. In general, we can right poor behavior in our children and close compainions and associates via conversation and good modeling. Our children act as we do--if we use poor language, harsh judgement and uncivil behavior, our children will do the same. What we do matters. With regard to close associates, usually a few words or a conversation will right behavior, and when that doesn't work, we can show no support for their poor behavior, and if their behavior is dangerous and destructive and our person-to-person conversation doesn't work, we may need to report that behavior to the authorities.
Choose civil leaders
Trump and his cronies' incivility, bigotry, hatred and lies throughout the past few years and beyond have hurt our country considerablly. So many who followed Trump's bogus ways are paying the price with jail time, fines, lost jobs and more. Still, however, too many elites like Trump are getting away with their incivility--behavior that gravely harms our country today and into the future. We cannot continue to elect or choose disrespectful, hateful, hurtful leaders like that.
When we are respectful, kind and caring to one another, our whole world is better. We need to promote this kind of behavior everywhere we can beginning with updating our own habits and words. Onward.