What do we teach our children?

Each day while I'm having my coffee, I read the news online. There are always things that get my attention. Usually it is coverage about the war in Iraq, or the latest idiotic thing Bush is doing, etc. But sometimes I come across a story that stands out from the rest for one reason or another.

Today was one of those days. The story was about a new "trend" that has been taking place in our country. This is not a new fashion or music genre, it's not a new diet or healthy lifestyle choice. Rather it is a frightening and damning trend of young people, mostly males between 14 and 25, attacking homeless people - in some cases beating them to death - for no reason. Well, the reason given (by some of these teenage killers) is that it was "for kicks", or "just messing around", etc. CNN labeled it "sport killings" (http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/19/homeless.attacks/index.html).

According to some statistics offered in the news report, over 120 attacks against the homeless have taken place over the last year within the US, with 20 resulting in death. But while the fact that a person can be attacked and even killed for nothing more than being homeless and an "easy" target is appalling enough, what is truly chilling about it is that these attacks are being carried out by bored, middle-class teenagers.

What are we teaching our kids? Where is their respect for life? Where is their fear of the consequences of their actions? It is bad enough when a kid gets their hands on a gun and uses it. But these attacks are worse in a way, because they are personal. These kids aren't shooting their victims - they are beating them with bats and sticks, kicking them when they're down, etc.

It's difficult to watch some of the video that was offered with the story. In one, two boys are seen attacking a homeless man with some kind of stick or bat. Those same boys are accused of two other attacks that night, one of which resulted in a death. In another case, highlighted in the story, three boys are serving long prison sentences for beating a homeless man to death in Wisconsin.

Are our kids so angry that they have to express their rage through such brutality and violence? If so, why? What are they angry about?

But more than that, I have to wonder if it isn't our capitalistic culture - our admiration of monetary success over any other human value a person may have - that promotes this kind of behavior in our kids. I noticed that the article pointed out that most such attacks are carried out by middle-class teens, kids who've been raised in good homes, had all the advantages, and still became murderers.

What were they taught in those homes? Were they taught to think of anyone who was poor as a second-class human being? Were they taught that if someone is homeless it must be due to laziness, addiction, or some other "undesireable" trait? Was there an implication, however subtle, in the messages they got from parents, relatives, teachers, and others in their circle, that a homeless person would be "better off" dead, or perhaps had no right to be in their town or community?

Is it possible that we are teaching our kids to be killers simply by giving them the impression that anyone who doesn't meet some standard of wealth and success is not worthy of respect, compassion, or even life?

What kind of world do I want?

I want a world where every human being, regardless of their financial circumstance, has a warm, safe place to sleep at night, nutritious food to eat, and the ability to get the medical and psychiatric care they need.

I want a world where our children learn to love and respect their fellow wo/man, and try to help those in need, instead of ridiculing them or, in some cases, killing them.

Most of all, I want a world where every human has value and the right to exist, regardless of their finances, skin color, sexual orientation, religious views, age, gender, politics, culture, education, handicap, or any other factor.