Yet another child has become the victim of collateral damage in the city of Baltimore. Some " thug " shooting at four other " thugs " missed and shot a nine year old in the leg while she was playing on her porch. Just about a year ago, in that same neighborhood, a five year old was shot and killed in the same manner. The mother of this recently injured child was on the news looking for answers. She said, I was told it took a village to raise a child, where is the village ? I understand her grief and frustration. In response it struck me that the " village " has long been torn down. Now, even the smallest neighborhood is like a city. How did this come to be ? That is a question for the sociologists to answer. All I know is this, I grew up in a village. I didn't live in the village per se, in fact I lived three miles north of that, but that didn't matter I was raised by the village.
The village was inhabited by correction officers, we called them adults back then. These officers could and would correct your behavior immediately, anytime, anywhere and without prejudice ! They would also report any infraction to your " warden " where further action would be taken. The rules and regulations were well known and publicized. There were no hidden cameras or tweets, there were actual " eyes " on you. Reported incidents were assumed to be true when received by the warden. It was up to the accused to prove their innocence. That was a very difficult thing to do. Mostly that was true because the reports were true ! In the rare case of an incorrect reporting you were punished, that was immediate, but when your innocence was proven, you got a " I'm sorry. " It was well established that the " corrections officers " seldom, if ever, made a mistake. The warden placed complete trust in those people. That trust was founded in having known them for years. Shoot, they had served their time alongside them and so were well aware of their character. They had earned their freedom together.
Maybe that is what has changed. I, we, had to earn our freedom, it was not granted. Today the kids start out with " freedom " and wind up in jail. Could it be that is because they were not taught the value of freedom ? My " freedom " would be taken away for the slightest misstep. That freedom may include being grounded, no television or radio, no going here or there or any other " restriction of freedom " the warden thought appropriate. The assistant warden shared equal power, I called her Mom. Just a whisper from her to the warden could result in, you guessed it, a loss of freedom. Reports and recommendations from any " corrections officer " may have the same result. At the very least you would be subjected to an inquisition ! You had best have all the correct answers and responses during that process. Lame excuses like, everybody does it, would not get you past the inquisitor. Guilt was assumed but the lack of direct evidence did provide you a chance. It was a slight chance, just a glimmer of hope, but justice could be had. You had to be truly innocent though and that was a lesson you learned from that process. Half truths and flimsy excuses quickly deteriorated under questioning.
I understand the question that poor lady was asking. Where is the village ? The village lies in the heart of the people, that is where the village is. As our villages expanded, whether they were small neighborhoods or large cities, fewer of the wardens relied upon the reports of the correction officers. Freedom was granted without having earned it and the system began to break down. No longer being held accountable to the " village " the inmates created their own rules. What we see today is the result. I wonder what a sociologist would have to say about that theory ?
The village was inhabited by correction officers, we called them adults back then. These officers could and would correct your behavior immediately, anytime, anywhere and without prejudice ! They would also report any infraction to your " warden " where further action would be taken. The rules and regulations were well known and publicized. There were no hidden cameras or tweets, there were actual " eyes " on you. Reported incidents were assumed to be true when received by the warden. It was up to the accused to prove their innocence. That was a very difficult thing to do. Mostly that was true because the reports were true ! In the rare case of an incorrect reporting you were punished, that was immediate, but when your innocence was proven, you got a " I'm sorry. " It was well established that the " corrections officers " seldom, if ever, made a mistake. The warden placed complete trust in those people. That trust was founded in having known them for years. Shoot, they had served their time alongside them and so were well aware of their character. They had earned their freedom together.
Maybe that is what has changed. I, we, had to earn our freedom, it was not granted. Today the kids start out with " freedom " and wind up in jail. Could it be that is because they were not taught the value of freedom ? My " freedom " would be taken away for the slightest misstep. That freedom may include being grounded, no television or radio, no going here or there or any other " restriction of freedom " the warden thought appropriate. The assistant warden shared equal power, I called her Mom. Just a whisper from her to the warden could result in, you guessed it, a loss of freedom. Reports and recommendations from any " corrections officer " may have the same result. At the very least you would be subjected to an inquisition ! You had best have all the correct answers and responses during that process. Lame excuses like, everybody does it, would not get you past the inquisitor. Guilt was assumed but the lack of direct evidence did provide you a chance. It was a slight chance, just a glimmer of hope, but justice could be had. You had to be truly innocent though and that was a lesson you learned from that process. Half truths and flimsy excuses quickly deteriorated under questioning.
I understand the question that poor lady was asking. Where is the village ? The village lies in the heart of the people, that is where the village is. As our villages expanded, whether they were small neighborhoods or large cities, fewer of the wardens relied upon the reports of the correction officers. Freedom was granted without having earned it and the system began to break down. No longer being held accountable to the " village " the inmates created their own rules. What we see today is the result. I wonder what a sociologist would have to say about that theory ?
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