The recent
killings of young people in the valley make a fellow youngster feel
uncomfortable.
Not so
long ago, the death of a young person would shock an entire community, but
these days you get the impression people are not shocked, as the killing of
innocents has become part of the norm.
If one
could argue that the average age of young people who die is between 18 and 24,
it would mean they were born between 1989 and 1998, during the infant years of
our democracy.
They were
then children who had dreams of a free country in which they could raise their
own children with hope.
Taking
this into account, it poses the question: where did we fail and who is failing
us?
I recall
when I was in high school in 2002, learners were scared of being caught
smoking.
Now
children smoke in front of grown-ups.
One
always reads that the communities know who the gangsters or criminals are, but
surely we were not raised to be bad elements in our communities.
Nor
would any parent want their child to use drugs or become a gangster.
I come
from the same community and the same street as other bad elements and I am not
bad.
The
street you come from and the community you are raised in do not determine your
destiny.
Responsibility
and ownership is not determined by the government, but parents, the youth and
society. Do communities not determine their identity?
I am
fortunate enough to have grown up in two different areas. In both communities,
neighbours knew and supported each other. Children could play in the street
until late, without parents fearing a drive-by shooting.
After
two decades, I now have to wonder and fear if it is safe for my child to play
outside. But I should also wonder about my own safety, as violence in
communities has become similar to buying bread – an everyday thing.
To fear
is easy and it is human to fear the unknown, but I should ask myself: what am I
doing to change that fear?
The
solution to our problem is for all of us to work together.
The
government and NGOs have the resources, funds, policies and strategies to
assist communities with information and education.
Society
has the ability to create their identity and they can do this by being an
active community, one where neighbours know each other and, more importantly,
talk to each other.
A
society that does not accept what is happening, but one where they create an
environment for children to play in the streets and where the elderly are
allowed to walk to the shop and their religious gatherings, without fear.
For
parents, it is important to know that before a child looks outside the door,
they must be able to find role models in their home. Raising children to the
best of their ability, parents need to be these role-models.
Although
children have rights, parents should know that they can still discipline a
child, without abusing the child and violating the child’s rights.
From an
early age we were taught right from wrong, it should worry us that our youth
despise this, favouring wrong over right.
Parents
are merely the vessel that brings a child into the world and it is still my
task as a child to be a responsible citizen and take ownership of my life and
actions.
No quick
remedy can fix our challenges, the answer lies with us as individuals.
So yes,
the recent killings in our communities should not be accepted.
Whether
they are gang-related or not, it is a societal issue that requires us to join
hands.
We have
been united by big sports games let us unite to take back our communities.
*Original opinion piece appeared in the Paarl Post of Thursday 20 November 2014
