Another Fight Against the Culture of Fear
On the road in Pittsburgh but felt the need to post from the Steel City. . .
I wrote back in April about the culture of fear in our society. You can re-read it here, if you'd like. The gist of my argument is that we're raising a generation of children, and adults, quite frankly, to believe that there are predators and criminals lurking in every car, behind every door and at every street corner. Statistics don't bear that out, I argued, and while we need to be smart and vigilant, we shouldn't toss out our common sense in the face of this fear-mongering, which is being driven mostly by the mass media.
An article today in the Wall Street Journal addressed something that I've noticed developing among even some of my peers; a creeping belief, apparently, that all men are dangerous to kids. Rather than read my attempt to paraphrase it, read columnist Jeffrey Zaslow's story here.
Assuming you've read it now, I think the issues he addressed are quite valid and bear some comment. Why has our society begun to develop a belief that the only nurturing that men can do with children are with their own children?
I'm a great Dad. There, I've said it. Like most parents, I'd walk through fire for my children. However, I've been good with little kids for a long time and well before I was a parent. From my days as a camp counselor in college and into adulthood, I've always been able to make a connection with kids. Not sure why. Not sure if it's because I don't talk down to them, even when they're little. Or I'm patient with them. Or that I simply listen and pay attention to them. Whatever it is, I've just always been able to make them comfortable.
Does that make me weird? An anomaly? Absolutely not. I know lots of other men who are the same way. They care about their own children and they're great with other children. They're dedicated coaches, youth group leaders, mentors and other role models so desperately needed by today's youth. So, when there are people or groups out there warning that "men are a high risk to kids," we as men need to stand up and fight that. And, we need the women in our lives to do the same.
Look around an elementary school lately. When's the last time you saw a male elementary school teacher? I'm in my late 30s and can remember having male teachers in third grade, fourth grade, fifth grade and on. Don't seem to see a lot of that anymore. Why? Because, if you buy the fear, only men with an unhealthy interest in children would want to teach little kids? Ridiculous, right?
Enough fear mongering. Enough trying to scare our children into thinking all strangers are bad and that there are male predators lurking everywhere. Do the statistics show that more men than women are child molesters? Absolutely. However, as it relates to the general population, the actual number of male child molesters is an absolutely tiny number compared to the loving, nurturing and dedicated men out there who can and must continue to play an important role in our children's lives.
It's all about perspective and context. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I have a far greater chance of being killed on the way to PIT tomorrow than on the plane to ORD. Am I afraid of flying? Nope. . .
I wrote back in April about the culture of fear in our society. You can re-read it here, if you'd like. The gist of my argument is that we're raising a generation of children, and adults, quite frankly, to believe that there are predators and criminals lurking in every car, behind every door and at every street corner. Statistics don't bear that out, I argued, and while we need to be smart and vigilant, we shouldn't toss out our common sense in the face of this fear-mongering, which is being driven mostly by the mass media.
An article today in the Wall Street Journal addressed something that I've noticed developing among even some of my peers; a creeping belief, apparently, that all men are dangerous to kids. Rather than read my attempt to paraphrase it, read columnist Jeffrey Zaslow's story here.
Assuming you've read it now, I think the issues he addressed are quite valid and bear some comment. Why has our society begun to develop a belief that the only nurturing that men can do with children are with their own children?
I'm a great Dad. There, I've said it. Like most parents, I'd walk through fire for my children. However, I've been good with little kids for a long time and well before I was a parent. From my days as a camp counselor in college and into adulthood, I've always been able to make a connection with kids. Not sure why. Not sure if it's because I don't talk down to them, even when they're little. Or I'm patient with them. Or that I simply listen and pay attention to them. Whatever it is, I've just always been able to make them comfortable.
Does that make me weird? An anomaly? Absolutely not. I know lots of other men who are the same way. They care about their own children and they're great with other children. They're dedicated coaches, youth group leaders, mentors and other role models so desperately needed by today's youth. So, when there are people or groups out there warning that "men are a high risk to kids," we as men need to stand up and fight that. And, we need the women in our lives to do the same.
Look around an elementary school lately. When's the last time you saw a male elementary school teacher? I'm in my late 30s and can remember having male teachers in third grade, fourth grade, fifth grade and on. Don't seem to see a lot of that anymore. Why? Because, if you buy the fear, only men with an unhealthy interest in children would want to teach little kids? Ridiculous, right?
Enough fear mongering. Enough trying to scare our children into thinking all strangers are bad and that there are male predators lurking everywhere. Do the statistics show that more men than women are child molesters? Absolutely. However, as it relates to the general population, the actual number of male child molesters is an absolutely tiny number compared to the loving, nurturing and dedicated men out there who can and must continue to play an important role in our children's lives.
It's all about perspective and context. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I have a far greater chance of being killed on the way to PIT tomorrow than on the plane to ORD. Am I afraid of flying? Nope. . .
posted by W.S. Wuori at 9:25 PM
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