One of these ‘frightening facts’ that the media often regurgitate in order to prove how scared we should be of our children is the alcohol consumption statistics conducted by the government. From the results of the batch survey the newspapers claimed that since half of all male juveniles (50%) between the ages of 16 to 24 had exceeded four units of alcohol on at least one day of the week, compared to the 16% of those aged 65 to over, this was ‘undeniable proof that the young man of today is becoming out of control!’ Also the young women of our society were named and shamed with 42% in the youngest age group (16-17) having exceeding three units on at least one day in the week.
Even though the government explained that these figures in themselves lacked much ecological validity which is to say relevance to our society, and in no way could be effectively linked to crime figures, the national media failed to mention this point at all in their reports in their quest to distort the truth for maximum profits. In the same month the newspapers released these stories, youth supporting charities reported to an 18% decrease in the amount of monetary donations they received, a statistic I’m sure the newspapers failed to report. Why you ask, because real and significant statistics don’t shock people into buying newspapers. What a profit driven world we’re bringing up our children in.
Nevertheless it would be wrong to think that such negative features of society, such as the widespread availability and consumption of alcohol, are not contributing to the detriment the juvenile. Never has immorality been more readily acceptable and present that in the western culture in this the 21st Century, coupled with an equally startling lack of discipline. Our youth of today will find that such acts as sex, drugs and alcohol, and the pressure to indulge in them, will be immense even impossible to resist. Whether it be from friends, television, Internet, publications and even now billboards in the streets, the message society sends to the juvenile is to over indulge in pleasure and practise the activities that can provide it, forgetting to add that they are also deemed as immoral, illegal and will more than likely cause huge problems in the way you live your life. A Utopia lifestyle were liberal sex does not produce sexually transmitted diseases, excessive alcohol never leads to addictions and illegal drugs are safe to use even though your never sure what your taking.
However to impose the same stigmas on all juveniles would be almost as ignorant as pretending that the problem of juvenile delinquency does not exist. A recent survey conducted on multiple cultures by an independent organisation found that in England alone over 60% of juveniles where very unhappy with the condition of their lives, with 40% describing themselves as ‘severely depressed’. These figures dropped to 45% and 32% in Ireland and Northern Ireland and even further in Scotland. Yet the biggest surprise came when England, despite being one of the richest and most stable countries in Europe and the world, only three countries poorer than England reported a higher rate of unhappiness in their youth population, out of the 35 countries surveyed. Assuming these results were accurate the question has to be asked, why do the youth of other cultures or countries deem themselves to be living happier lives? Is a definition of juvenile delinquency being a ‘lifestyle that does not conform to the legal or moral standards of society’, because if so 60% of our young ones are saying their lives do not live up to these standards.
It is true that culture in the United Kingdom has changed, and the way in which it now impacts on our juveniles may be becoming more and more negative, but the basic needs of all human beings have never really changed. Soil is still used to grow food, wars still occur because of minor disputes and children will always need role models to mould themselves against, iconic figures unto which they can look to for an example of how to live their lives. Traditionally this should be the parents and caregivers such as teachers and policeman who have positive effects on this juvenile’s life. However, in a society where parents are spending less and less time with their children, former peers of society such as educators and police are being demonised in media and these role models are replaced with pop superstars and movie actors/actresses, how can we expect the lifestyle of our young ones to remain good and moral. If their newfound role models are sexually promiscuous, smoke and drink heavily, use crime to fund a lazy lifestyle, are violent towards each other, degrading towards the opposite sex and still seemingly ‘get away with it’, can the juvenile really be blamed for becoming delinquent claiming full responsibility for his or her acts of immorality? Ultimately, yes. Because the first and most valuable lesson society will teach us all, even if our parents refuse to, is that everyone suffers the consequences of their own actions.
Nevertheless it is important to note this instance is not the first time and neither will it be the last that the subject of juvenile delinquency is touched upon in an article. Many have gone past the stage of discussion and are out there in the streets at this very moment ministering to those young citizens who society forgot. There are many charities, pressure groups and even political parties that have been constantly tackling this ever-present issue in society, but perhaps the most effective yet is the spiritual effort, one that in the past defined this country, and can still be remembered every time the flag is raised.
Project Eden is a fundamental movement that has swept through the Greater Manchester area attracting the attention of media, government and more importantly the community of Manchester. Every day and night a group of passion filled youth leaders take the gospel to the streets of Manchester ministering to the masses of young children who line the streets every night. These trained councillors interact with the youth everyone else ignores, involving them in community clubs and activities, relating to them in group discussions about issues which they thought no-one else cared about but most importantly and key to the movement, showing them that Jesus Christ is the best role model they could wish to model their young lives upon.
Whatever your religious beliefs or orientations it is clear to see that when the youth are given such strong teachings they are stronger to cope with the many immoralities of this world that lead to delinquency. Project Eden has seen crime fall and education rise in the Greater Manchester area, in a way government spending and advertising could never expect, highlighting the view that the only fabric that can hold a society together is the recognition and reverence of a stronger and morally better, higher power – and what so more than their creator? We should applaud Project Eden for their initiative and work but should parents wait for strangers to take pity on their own children or shouldn’t this type of basic education and communication start from the home. Perhaps it was best summed up in the opening lines of a speech given by delinquency expert Stephen Johnson, to parents about the lessons to be learnt from the tragic events of school shootings:
“IF PARENTS DON’T RAISE THEIR CHILDREN, THEN THEIR PEERS AND THE MASS MEDIA WILL, AND SOCIETY MAY NOT BE HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS.”
