I think we can all agree that there is no 1 silver bullet solution to the tragedies that we as humans inflict on ourselves. The Sandy Hook school shootings, the India rape and other heinous crimes don't occur from 1 thing gone wrong, but from a series of incidents, and often times there are warning signs ignored. For the sake of being actions driven, here are 2 reflections on what a solution set must entail:
Firstly, we as a society, need to highlight more role models. 4 year old girls want to be princesses and 4 year old boys want to be superheros. Who do 18 year old men and women aspire to be? I'm not proposing we create fictional heros for adults. I believe there are enough real-life heros to go around, but they seem to get less media attention than criminals. Here's my proposal: each city highlights the local hero of the week. These highlights can be shot by local aspiring journalism students and aired during primetime television. I'm not talking about the Olympic hero or someone who saved lives. I'm talking about every day heros like the single mom working two jobs to give her daughter a better life. It's a hard life, and she could have chosen a less righteous path, but she's setting a good example for her daughter. Why should this example be limited? Why shouldn't it be shared with the community? I highly admire such heros.
Secondly, enforcement and punishment. This is stating the obvious, but those who have committed a crime must be pursued, arrested, given a fair trial, and if convicted, fairly sentenced. There needs to be clear processes and procedures that the police must follow, and, it should be a criminal offence if these procedures are not followed. This is one way to ensure credibility that actions will be taken to deter would be criminals. In addition, I believe criminal investigations, trials and punishments should be publicised (even if it's anonymous).
By no means are these solutions exhaustive, nor do I believe they will solve all problems, but it's a start.
Firstly, we as a society, need to highlight more role models. 4 year old girls want to be princesses and 4 year old boys want to be superheros. Who do 18 year old men and women aspire to be? I'm not proposing we create fictional heros for adults. I believe there are enough real-life heros to go around, but they seem to get less media attention than criminals. Here's my proposal: each city highlights the local hero of the week. These highlights can be shot by local aspiring journalism students and aired during primetime television. I'm not talking about the Olympic hero or someone who saved lives. I'm talking about every day heros like the single mom working two jobs to give her daughter a better life. It's a hard life, and she could have chosen a less righteous path, but she's setting a good example for her daughter. Why should this example be limited? Why shouldn't it be shared with the community? I highly admire such heros.
Secondly, enforcement and punishment. This is stating the obvious, but those who have committed a crime must be pursued, arrested, given a fair trial, and if convicted, fairly sentenced. There needs to be clear processes and procedures that the police must follow, and, it should be a criminal offence if these procedures are not followed. This is one way to ensure credibility that actions will be taken to deter would be criminals. In addition, I believe criminal investigations, trials and punishments should be publicised (even if it's anonymous).
By no means are these solutions exhaustive, nor do I believe they will solve all problems, but it's a start.
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