From Dawn to Dusk... the journal |
Thursday, May 2, 2002 * changing times... Times have changed. Times are changing. Times will continue to change. Nothing is certain but change... So - we have to go with the flow, right? I can usually do this fairly well. Learned at an early age that it was easier to not buck the system - whether that meant parents or school or authority of any kind. Not to say that I didn't have my moments, but formed some basic philosophies early and 'modified' them as the times changed. Never believed in things being only Black and White - knew that 'grey' was always there. Felt that circumstances always played a part. Was fairly adept in separating the chaff from the grain. Kept my own counsel not seeing a need to defend it or be be reassured. Thus, when things came up that didn't set well with me, even as a child or young adult, it was easy not to be tempted by peer pressure. Sure, I wanted to be accepted like everybody else, but never to the extent of doing something I didn't want to do or being someone I didn't want to be. Why? I don't know. I was skinny - and a tomboy. Never wanted to be a boy - but was aware of the advantages and obvious freedoms allowed the male sex even as a child in those days. I did have a brother. Decided it was infinitely better being a girl despite the lack of freedom and didn't really have romantic thoughts about boys much until college. Sure I went to a few dances in high school, but since it was a Catholic all girls' high school, we didn't have much opportunity. But there were opportunities. The all boys and all girls' schools held functions. And certainly there were girls who took advantage of all of them. That's where the difference is first noticed. Why do some girls become popular oriented at this age ? And to what degree? Is it hormones? Probably to some extent. But how is it that some kids know their priorities even then? It was supposed to be studies first and fun after. It was marriage first and sex/babies after... a simple rule... maybe made more simple because I understood it and accepted it. (Isn't there a time for every purpose under heaven?) I certainly believed in freedom and women's rights. But I believed in myself more. Kind of like that saying, "Even if I don't agree with what you're saying, I'll fight to the death for your right to say it." Don't take me wrong. I'm not saying anything is wrong with women's freedoms or women's rights or women's rights to sexual freedom. But just because the right is there - doesn't mean that it's my choice. I guess what worries me is too much too soon. Too much sexual freedom at ages where the emotional part is too much to handle. It's the only way I can halfway comprehend why young children and adolescents commit suicide. What problems should a young person have that would make them suicidal? Are they not allowing themselves to be kids? What kind of pressure can a kid have? and the fact that they do says something about our society - although I'm not sure what. Maybe it's the "too much too soon" society....? and many are simply not prepared to handle it. So what do we do? Can't remove freedoms - or could - but don't think that's the answer. Maybe implement early on the importance of responsibilities that go hand in hand with freedom. Ingrain in our youth that freedom comes with a big but worthwhile price. And that if you're not willing to pay the price of responsibility, then you're going to lose the whole package. ...the old "there's no such thing as a free lunch" meaning : Nothing's free, not even freedom. Forgive me for rambling on. Sometimes 'a little thing' like a child of 11 entering adolescence brings on a deluge of worried thoughts... Rian |
one woman's journey a day at a time "to touch the cup with eager lips and taste not drain it" |
grow old along with me the best is yet to be... |
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