The Basis of a Civilized Society

The basis of a civilized society is respect.  Thinking back to raising my son, I wonder which of us taught the other more.  With Boy, it was a constant struggle.  He brought me consistency and cultivated my patience while I taught him the value of respect through the game of baseball.  “Do unto others as you would have done unto yourself.” Became “If you wouldn’t like it, don’t do it to someone else.”  Pretty basic.  Pretty simple.  Pretty necessary for a civil society.  Pretty missing these days.  It’s ALL about respect and teaching respect is every one’s responsibility.
 

I take the time to talk to kids as I make my daily rounds.  I ask them questions and sometimes question their behavior.  Such happened the other day.  I was heading out to pick up Hubby and what do I see but a couple of young boys throwing pieces of broken asphalt at the stop sign at Eighth and Middleburgh.  Two were tossing and two were on bikes.  Me being me, I had to say something so I pulled over, and called to them through the open passenger window.  Those boys knew they were snagged.

“What are ya doing?”  In unison, the two boys on the bikes said, “I didn’t throw nothing.”  The other two boys, eyes fixed to the ground just shrugged.  “Can you see if there are cars coming down the hill from where you’re throwing?”  “No ma’am.” said the younger of the two tossers.  “What do you think would happen if you hit a car with one of those things?” “We’d get in trouble.” said the older boy.  “Yes you would.  Now what if someone hit your mom’s car like that.  How would you feel?”  All four boys responded, like a quartet, that they’d be really mad. “So, do ya think ya should be throwing rocks at the sign?”  “No ma’am.” “Then don’t do it, okay?  Go have some fun down at the park.”

As I pulled away, those boys were smiling not because they got away with something but because they didn’t.  They saw their actions in a different way.  All I could think about was how accurate that one kid was and that he’d make a great pitcher, which made me think of the now defunct Central Little League.  I grew up at that ball field.  It was the center of my summer world.  I am very displeased with the stewardship it has been shown and continue to work towards a positive resolution. 

My Uptown Kids NEED what baseball can give them.  It once was and can be again a central gathering spot for our community.  All four of those boys were under 12.  All four of those boys should have something more constructive to do with their time.  All four boys need some guidance in their lives.  All four boys are valuable assets in the community and must be given every opportunity to show their stuff.