Thursday, April 19, 2007
THE FAMILIES OF VIRGINIA TECH
The nation and world continue to mourn over the massacre at Virginia Tech. We respond in shock, anger, fear, worry, and disbelief. How could that young man, Cho Seung-Hui, commit such evil? Many analyze the death of thirty-two students and the wounding of many others. Many scrutinize the images sent to NBC news and seek to peer into the mind of this madman. Many ponder, how did our world get in such a twisted condition?
For me, the root of this current crisis resides in the family. Something in the family-past took place to cause Seung gradually to emerge as a mass murderer. Imagine being an eight-year old boy removed from his native country. He left familiar surroundings to journey with the immediate family into American society. Such a move soon made him the target of his school mates. He was a foreigner who spoke funny and was very shy.
Somewhere in all this, the mom and dad needed to intervene and help the son deal with rejection. Apparently, nothing worked to prohibit the emotional distress of feeling rejected. Surely his mother and father had some knowledge of his struggles. Eventually Cho arrived at Virginia Tech and named himself "The Question Mark." Again, he lived isolated, alone, and continued to bore himself deeper into the dark world where the severely rejected may go. Ultimately this lead Cho Sueng-Hui to seek revenge, to destroy the innocent, and take his own life.
Time for the point: Parents, we better keep a very close, attentive eye and heart on our children. Rejection left unchecked can motivate our sons and daughters to become people we don't know. So, we must love and accept them with unconditional love. We must listen to them to learn of their challenges and fears. We must join them to overcome barriers and difficulties in their lives. We must insure them that they never have to face this big planet alone. Most importantly, we must teach them that Jesus Christ is the key to acceptance. In Ephesians 1:6 (KJV) we find that God has "accepted us in the Beloved." Mothers and fathers are responsible to secure this message into the spirit and mind of their children.
Parents, don't you dare ignore the message of Virginia Tech. Both the murderer, the murdered, and injured are someone's son or daughter. At the bottom of this horrible event is a story about families. Do all you can to love yours all you can as long as you can.
For me, the root of this current crisis resides in the family. Something in the family-past took place to cause Seung gradually to emerge as a mass murderer. Imagine being an eight-year old boy removed from his native country. He left familiar surroundings to journey with the immediate family into American society. Such a move soon made him the target of his school mates. He was a foreigner who spoke funny and was very shy.
Somewhere in all this, the mom and dad needed to intervene and help the son deal with rejection. Apparently, nothing worked to prohibit the emotional distress of feeling rejected. Surely his mother and father had some knowledge of his struggles. Eventually Cho arrived at Virginia Tech and named himself "The Question Mark." Again, he lived isolated, alone, and continued to bore himself deeper into the dark world where the severely rejected may go. Ultimately this lead Cho Sueng-Hui to seek revenge, to destroy the innocent, and take his own life.
Time for the point: Parents, we better keep a very close, attentive eye and heart on our children. Rejection left unchecked can motivate our sons and daughters to become people we don't know. So, we must love and accept them with unconditional love. We must listen to them to learn of their challenges and fears. We must join them to overcome barriers and difficulties in their lives. We must insure them that they never have to face this big planet alone. Most importantly, we must teach them that Jesus Christ is the key to acceptance. In Ephesians 1:6 (KJV) we find that God has "accepted us in the Beloved." Mothers and fathers are responsible to secure this message into the spirit and mind of their children.
Parents, don't you dare ignore the message of Virginia Tech. Both the murderer, the murdered, and injured are someone's son or daughter. At the bottom of this horrible event is a story about families. Do all you can to love yours all you can as long as you can.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Imus Proof Your Family
By now, the world knows that Don Imus is fired for his unseemly remarks. However, most of the world does not realize what actually causes Imus to be so ugly-mouthed.
To set this up consider the following.
His derogatory comments about the Rutgers' women basketball team violated two standards - racial and sexual. Notice what is at the root of each of these categories.
Race is about family. Whether we are black, brown, red, yellow, or white, we are what we are because of our families. Ultimately, negative racial statements are accusations about family life. Why? You speak against the family's skin color.
Sex is about family. One's gender is the result of birth is one's family. Ultimately, negative sexist comments ar e belittling words about family life. Why? You speak against the family's male or female child.
Now directly to Don Imus. What is the reason he talks the way he does? His dirty mouth certainly is his personal problem, but someone had to help shape the man he now is. A family breakdown exists somewhere in Imus' past that has created such a vulgar-talking person.
Parents are to train their children in all things, even their words. Moms and dads are responsible to teach little ones about Jesus and how He lives. The Lord speaks pure and holy language. In Ephesians 4:29 is this command. "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those how hear."
My bet is that lodged within Imus' history is a family problem. In his life, Don Imus has been exposed to a lot of trashy conversation . His parents should have protected him and taught him to live on a higher level. What you find in the man today more than likely flowed in his boyhood family experiences. He should have had his mouth washed with soap or been spanked. Most of all, Don needed his parents to train him in the art of using wholesome words.
Imus' firing is a family issue!
To set this up consider the following.
His derogatory comments about the Rutgers' women basketball team violated two standards - racial and sexual. Notice what is at the root of each of these categories.
Race is about family. Whether we are black, brown, red, yellow, or white, we are what we are because of our families. Ultimately, negative racial statements are accusations about family life. Why? You speak against the family's skin color.
Sex is about family. One's gender is the result of birth is one's family. Ultimately, negative sexist comments ar e belittling words about family life. Why? You speak against the family's male or female child.
Now directly to Don Imus. What is the reason he talks the way he does? His dirty mouth certainly is his personal problem, but someone had to help shape the man he now is. A family breakdown exists somewhere in Imus' past that has created such a vulgar-talking person.
Parents are to train their children in all things, even their words. Moms and dads are responsible to teach little ones about Jesus and how He lives. The Lord speaks pure and holy language. In Ephesians 4:29 is this command. "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those how hear."
My bet is that lodged within Imus' history is a family problem. In his life, Don Imus has been exposed to a lot of trashy conversation . His parents should have protected him and taught him to live on a higher level. What you find in the man today more than likely flowed in his boyhood family experiences. He should have had his mouth washed with soap or been spanked. Most of all, Don needed his parents to train him in the art of using wholesome words.
Imus' firing is a family issue!
