Kecoughtan High School

Hampton, Virgina

Teacher: Emma Flood

 

 

 

Responsibility:  A Community’s Lack

By Serena Stokes

 

When it comes to personal responsibility, people like to think that they are capable of handling their own. However, when it comes to personal responsibility being used to help others; that seems to be the downfall. There are numerous communities with problems to be solved such as divorce, child neglect, malpractice, poverty and the growing number of retirees. If we inhabit these communities, we should take the initiative to make them better.

 

Divorce is not the major downfall of many communities, but it is a prime cause of vacant jobs because the families move away. Divorce is the effect of a corrupt society that agrees with “living arrangements” before marriage. The proof of our corrupt societies lies in how other countries view marriage. Manus citizens, [over fifty years ago] for example, did not marry for love…[and] because they did not…they had no reason for divorce….they marrrried to stay alive. The [arranged] marriage gave each side of the [Manus] family reassurance that when they needed help they had someone to turn to…. The increasing divorce rate [in American society] have a dramatic effect on the children. According to “Tomorrow’s Child”, the children are now forced to grow up too soon, compete for positions…and survive in a have-and-have-not society.

 

Our society has split dramatically so our communities feel the effect. Perhaps it was the communities that first changed the society to what it is now. There are now more rules and punishments [concerning] malpractice…. Punitive damages should be enforced for intentional [mal]practice. Minor damages should not require such severe punishment and that should be where regulations come into play. Legal challengers, mainly lawyers, should trust [existing] regulations…Lawyers are faced with an increasing population with many customs, therefore a mediator is needed to…[respect] social diversity. Kathleen Sullivan believes that lawyers are trusted more than government….

 

One of the…conflicts that will arise very soon is the increasing number of retirees, although ample parts of that conflict are coming to a resolution. The Baby Boomers will probably go into their own business where they will hire old and young employees. Young entrepreneurs will care for the elderly while older employees will help the older entrepreneurs and more childcare facilities will be available for the youngest generation. This way our community improves with [little need for] more jobs and extensive experience. Unfortunately that is the positive side. The negative side begins with Generation X having to support their parents and [their own] children. Both [older and younger generations] put more pressure on Generation X.

 

All these factors; poverty, divorce and child neglect, breed an unstable society. These causes affect us daily, even if we do not take part in these events. It is not our part, as a whole, to cut back hours, create new businesses, stop divorce completely and lower education standards. Like Richard Eckersley, our part [is] to improve the quality of life [and] to find what we want out of it and to be willing to accomplish these goals. Since financial issues cause the increasing divorce rates, couples need to compromise and keep an open mind. Lower education standards should not be an option for less fortunate children. [All children] should have the same opportunities so if they fail, they can only blame themselves. If our collective goals are focused enough in the right direction, these problems are easily mend[ed].