Monday 27 April 2015

[Today] Important to teach self-control, awareness of actions to youth

I refer to the recent cases of youth violence, such as the one reported in “Teen who attacked foreign workers out of boredom jailed” (April 21), as well as the ongoing case of Amos Yee.
These cases reflect the recklessness and the lack of self-awareness that can lead to youths making mistakes, which burden not only themselves but also their families.
They point to the need to cultivate in this “strawberry generation” self-control and awareness of their actions’ legal ramifications, and its impact on society and their families. They must be aware that regardless of the validity of one’s views, they must consider the context in which they speak or act.
Civility is our goal as a society but it can only be achieved when there is a concerted effort to be less self-centred and be more considerate. The recent criminal cases involving youth are a cause for concern. But they are also good, if painful, lessons from which we can draw upon not to repeat mistakes of the past, and remind ourselves what we need do for future generations.