Dear Editor,
Sometimes, adults have the tendency to focus on the negative aspects that make up society and influence the youth; for example, how degraded the environment is, the problem of drugs, alcohol, late nights out, the perversions coming from our contemporary society, and so on.
We are indeed living in a period that suffers from a moral and value crisis, even though past generations had other crises and problems. There are values that, even though they are positive by themselves, are decaying or are being unappreciated by contemporary society. However, it is also true that there have been new values created among the youth. One of them is acting in solidarity during times of natural catastrophes or oil spills at sea. Volunteering is also another popular value, which is seen through the increase of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), in which thousands of youth dedicate their time and work, inspired by altruism.
In general, there is a mutual aspiration among nations towards achieving and maintaining peace; rejecting inequalities based on race, class, and nationality; defending women's rights as well as their dignity; valuing individual and collective freedoms; and raising awareness of climate change.
There are also very positive aspects concerning religion, such as those evidenced in the annual international meeting that the Pope has with youth who gather from all over the world to share a special moment of joy and companionship.
The youth do not like to be talked to in an apocalyptic manner, as if, in our modern times, there is only deprivation and devastation. Parents and teachers should avoid negative comments as much as possible about the habits and styles of the contemporary generation, or rejoice about the abundance of the past and make their past generation life role models.
In other words, the common tendency to denounce social defects must be avoided, and on the contrary, discover all positive aspects with a positive attitude in order to strengthen them and erase the negative, without forgetting that many times the root problems begin at home, or come from teachers themselves.
Arturo Ramo
The changing of values
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Sometimes, adults have the tendency to focus on the negative aspects that make up society and influence the youth; for example, how degraded the environment is, the problem of drugs, alcohol, late nights out, the perversions coming from our contemporary society, and so on.
We are indeed living in a period that suffers from a moral and value crisis, even though past generations had other crises and problems. There are values that, even though they are positive by themselves, are decaying or are being unappreciated by contemporary society. However, it is also true that there have been new values created among the youth. One of them is acting in solidarity during times of natural catastrophes or oil spills at sea. Volunteering is also another popular value, which is seen through the increase of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), in which thousands of youth dedicate their time and work, inspired by altruism.
In general, there is a mutual aspiration among nations towards achieving and maintaining peace; rejecting inequalities based on race, class, and nationality; defending women's rights as well as their dignity; valuing individual and collective freedoms; and raising awareness of climate change.
There are also very positive aspects concerning religion, such as those evidenced in the annual international meeting that the Pope has with youth who gather from all over the world to share a special moment of joy and companionship.
The youth do not like to be talked to in an apocalyptic manner, as if, in our modern times, there is only deprivation and devastation. Parents and teachers should avoid negative comments as much as possible about the habits and styles of the contemporary generation, or rejoice about the abundance of the past and make their past generation life role models.
In other words, the common tendency to denounce social defects must be avoided, and on the contrary, discover all positive aspects with a positive attitude in order to strengthen them and erase the negative, without forgetting that many times the root problems begin at home, or come from teachers themselves.
Arturo Ramo
The changing of values
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