Damage Control in The Heartland...
according to The Ol' Sage.
It ain't enough! The behavioral problems in our
society will not be cured with punishment, threats, isolation and fear.
It's a flood in The Heartland...a flood of damaged folks who have given up
on themselves and have no hope. It's a flood of broken hearts who can no
longer trust. And, there just aren't enough folks willing to help...and
our punish-release techniques aren't working! Lots of folks want the government
to build ships, redirect the water and keep strangers off their rafts. There's
a flood of disturbing behavior in the school, neighborhood and in public
gathering places.....and we aren't solving the problem. On the contrary,
the problem is growing!
The solution for crime, drug abuse, assault, educational
failure begins with the "home" and supports within the neighborhood...giving
little and big folks a safe, encouraging, consistent environment to live
within. When the home fails, the neighborhood must pick up the loose ends.
When crisis strikes, others must come to the aid of the emotionally injured
victim. Children are often the victims of divorce, job changes, home moves
and threatening circumstances...with no control over the often emotionally
devastating experiences. Adults are often the victims of company "down-sizing",
profiteers and a high-demand life style. And, too often, hurting folks
often can't find help until they lay in a heap on the floor....when the damage
is often irreversible.
As you may suspected, there is no new magic solution for these devastating
community problems. It's still the same solution that takes our time, that
requires our risking and consumes a portion of our money. The same solution
that is still waiting to be picked up and brought home.
And that brings us back to the flood....the flood of
crime, self-injury and anger. A flood that results when the hurts have gone
unhealed, when the pain is unheard, when we inflict the pain of our defeats
on others, when we give-up believing in ourselves. A flood that happens
when we live in a home that fails...within a community that doesn't care.
What to do? What to do? Is there no help?...no solution?
"Ofcourse there is.", added the Sage.
He went on to say, "We do have to contain the problem that exists today.
We have to make our Heartland safe. But the long range solution rests with
helping the neighborhood heal itself. Removing those forces in the Heartland
that drain it of its wealth and health. Offering neighborhood resources
for hurting folks before the injury is irreversible...resources such as community
centers, free physical and mental health services for those with no money
and some caring folks who will listen and respond. We need to educate our
people about stress and the impact of "big" changes on human life. We need
to join in the community efforts to make a better neighborhood. We need
to take responsibility for our Heartland."
For many Heartlanders, they can no longer live in comfortable
isolation while the community around them crumbles. We must understand we
can "help" and restore people...but, we aren't going to have a very good
success rate when we only offer punishment or turn our backs
Our community, our nation is in deep water. Better
sign up for swimming lessons or get to work solving this flooding problem.
Lets go home now!
