As I’ve grown up and moved around, I’ve had the wonderful privilege of meeting many, many different types of people. I believe everyone is unique, special. But one thing I’ve learned through all this is that unfortunately not everyone is blessed with an idyllic childhood.
As a military child, my young life has been one of boxes and moving vans. It’s been one of discipline and structure. But it’s also been one of love and of family.
I’ve been with teens who haven’t had those two last things. You can tell; their outlook is different from mine. I look at the world and want to improve it. They look at the world and want to escape it.
I had a friend who’s father was in a gang. He was proud when his son joined a gang. What did this gang do? They hung out, did drugs, and probably beat people up for the fun of it. Like father like son.
It’s because of stories like this that I’m interested in the connection between one’s childhood and his or her adulthood. It’s the reason why I want to look at those two groups and their connections: the abused (or mistreated) and the criminal. There is a linkage, and I find it fascinating, if not sad.
If we can somehow help the abused, the crime would decrease. How do I know this? Many criminals are the way they are because that’s what they know. Their parents, at best, didn’t teach them anything better. Their teachers didn’t give them any attention.
If we can give them other knowledge (how to work with their hands, how to lead, how to grow), some will turn and try to improve society. Criminals are humans like you and I. You and I were influenced by our childhood. So were they. If we can’t have a good childhood, we can make sure others have a better adulthood.
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