Some may say that this is just another bad year for Toledo. I say BUNK! Toledo has had many bad years, and in the end of the budget crunch the programs that seem to be expendable are the ones that were put in place to support the youth of our community. This is not a good thing.
So now we have a situation where we (those all knowing adults) who are frustrated with the kids roaming the streets, hanging on the corner, etc. are saying, "fine, sacrifice those programs, just don't raise my taxes!" Then we call Gov. Ctr. and fuss that the kids are breaking curfew, skipping school, hanging in the park, hanging on the corner.... It's a vicious circle - and a vicious cycle.
Now your question might be.....OK, so how do we keep the kids busy and still manage to balance our budget? Kind of a catch 22 thing. BUT - if we (you know - the village that's supposed to raise a child) take some initiative, and some responsibility, and encourage our neighbors to support community based programs we just might find that there are many out there with like concerns that are confused as to how to go about participating in a program that is 'outside the box' of government control.
I was always told there are three types of people:
1. Dreamers - the ones who will always have an idea, but don't ever follow through. They are content with having an idea. That's all it takes.
2. Doers - those that are willing to try something new, but sometimes when that idea doesn't produce instant results they grow weary and move on to something else.
3. True Believers - These are the Dreamers and Doers with a smattering of "not gonna give up" thrown in. They keep plodding along, ever hopeful that our world will change for the better, and aware that they will walk into brick walls on occasion. But they keep going. Focused. Intent. Devoted. Believing.
If you have ever thought about taking on a challenge, about helping to encourage change, about being part of a progressive thought process, seeing a project through to completion, basking in the warmth of success, or just taking an interest in the world around you.............then it's time. Time for you to realize that there are Groundz 4 Change and that you can be a part of it.
Get on the Positrain. The True Believers car is in the front. This is gonna be one helluva ride, folks!
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2 comments:
Thanks ROOO,
A wise woman once told me
Lead
Follow or
get the #3!! outta ma way....
thanks for keepin the dreams alive.
It astounds me that the people we elect to have visions and keep faith are... indeed blind and faithless.
How do we keep teens busy? Gee whiz Roo, you'd ought to know by now not to ask me a question because you might not like the answer :-)
Parents, neighbors, relatives and friends of youth - GET OFF YOUR SORRY ASSES, turn off the television and your cell phone. Grab a kid and go do something. If you own a van, grab six or seven.
We have parks, museum etc. all of which cost nothing to use.
That's my answer. If adults put value in the kids, look outside of themselves and get active the kids will have plenty to do. Can be a neighbor, an older teen - just start focusing ON the kids and their quality of life. Throw a baseball, enlist them to rake your yard WITH you. It's the 'with' part they want and need.
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