In this day and age of instant gratification it is no wonder why teens are committing acts of aggression and immorality. Many blame drug addiction, unemployment and relationship problems as the sources for the violence in today’s youth.
Even most experts agree that education is the key to preventing today’s youth in Vietnam from making poor decisions, leading them down a road of stillborn success.
However, I truly doubt a cultural conflict lies at the bottom of any explanation for these heinous crimes; the West does not condone such illegal activities any more than the East does. Instead, a lack of guidance and instruction from the family and community at an early age is likely the primary cause for the disarray in a teen’s life.
Le Van Luyen, an 18-year-old who confessed to several grisly murders, dropped out of school at the ninth grade. The question comes to mind: Where was this boy’s family? His mother and father are as much to blame, in my mind, as an immature, uneducated and underdeveloped teen; all are responsible for such actions, and we should accept our blame accordingly. In this case, Luyen, a teen in the custody of his parents, was allowed to drop school (certainly a bad choice) and take to the streets with other friends who also likely played truant, providing them time to seek out their own carnal desires rather than mature through the “fires of instruction.” Had he a solid support structure at home and at school, Luyen would not have been allowed to simply quit school and eventually become a thief and murderer, ruining his life.
Another criminal, HTN, who raped an eleven-year-old girl, confessed he had dropped out of school (not a coincidence) and spent his free time watching pornography. Again, this is another example of how an individual who is developing in both body and mind made a poor decision which led to an even bigger atrocity. It is something to consider: What if HTN had had a close-knit family to support him and encourage him that school was the better option than quitting? One must also consider what kind of role models were present (if any at all) in HTN’s life.
Nevertheless, a lack of proper parenting and a lack of role models in a society where cheating is considered standard, where morality is shoved aside in order to gain wealth by any means necessary is not the only blame. Might I suggest another explanation: excess of technology?
A young individual’s mind is still developing until the age of 21 and does not reach full maturity until shortly in the mid-twenties. In addition, the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain house the moral instincts of a person: the ability to choose right and wrong; furthermore, in these parts of the mind, encompasses the abilities to learn language, impulse control, and social and sexual behavior. Scientific studies have uncovered some traces of damage to the frontal and temporal lobes when technology is abused, especially at a young age. For instance, a young teen spends hours in front of the television or playing video games. When the developing mind is retarded, so are the moral instincts and the other factors which control behavior. Most scientists still agree that the utilization of cell phones, televisions, video games and the internet is still too new to fully understand the dramatic consequences on the human brain. Much the way scientists first supported DDT, a poisonous insecticide which killed not only animals but infected carcinogens into the human food supply. The inventor of DDT also won the Nobel Peace Prize; this shows us that Science often does not have the answers until it is far too late. In history, we often embrace what we fully do not understand and the consequences are often severe.
I always tell my students and my family that great big consequences come from very small choices and decisions. Ultimately the blame and accountability of any illegal or immoral act falls on the person who chooses selfish desires rather than self-control; however, as parents and a community, we should educate ourselves in how we can improve what we do to spot another person in need and help them, rather than simply looking the other way and allowing another person to ruin their lives: either by dropping out of school or by spending too much time in front of the computer. At some point, the obligation of education and morality (desiring to do the right thing no matter what) is essential and necessary.
Le Van Luyen, an 18-year-old who confessed to several grisly murders, dropped out of school at the ninth grade. The question comes to mind: Where was this boy’s family? His mother and father are as much to blame, in my mind, as an immature, uneducated and underdeveloped teen; all are responsible for such actions, and we should accept our blame accordingly. In this case, Luyen, a teen in the custody of his parents, was allowed to drop school (certainly a bad choice) and take to the streets with other friends who also likely played truant, providing them time to seek out their own carnal desires rather than mature through the “fires of instruction.” Had he a solid support structure at home and at school, Luyen would not have been allowed to simply quit school and eventually become a thief and murderer, ruining his life.
Another criminal, HTN, who raped an eleven-year-old girl, confessed he had dropped out of school (not a coincidence) and spent his free time watching pornography. Again, this is another example of how an individual who is developing in both body and mind made a poor decision which led to an even bigger atrocity. It is something to consider: What if HTN had had a close-knit family to support him and encourage him that school was the better option than quitting? One must also consider what kind of role models were present (if any at all) in HTN’s life.
Nevertheless, a lack of proper parenting and a lack of role models in a society where cheating is considered standard, where morality is shoved aside in order to gain wealth by any means necessary is not the only blame. Might I suggest another explanation: excess of technology?
A young individual’s mind is still developing until the age of 21 and does not reach full maturity until shortly in the mid-twenties. In addition, the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain house the moral instincts of a person: the ability to choose right and wrong; furthermore, in these parts of the mind, encompasses the abilities to learn language, impulse control, and social and sexual behavior. Scientific studies have uncovered some traces of damage to the frontal and temporal lobes when technology is abused, especially at a young age. For instance, a young teen spends hours in front of the television or playing video games. When the developing mind is retarded, so are the moral instincts and the other factors which control behavior. Most scientists still agree that the utilization of cell phones, televisions, video games and the internet is still too new to fully understand the dramatic consequences on the human brain. Much the way scientists first supported DDT, a poisonous insecticide which killed not only animals but infected carcinogens into the human food supply. The inventor of DDT also won the Nobel Peace Prize; this shows us that Science often does not have the answers until it is far too late. In history, we often embrace what we fully do not understand and the consequences are often severe.
I always tell my students and my family that great big consequences come from very small choices and decisions. Ultimately the blame and accountability of any illegal or immoral act falls on the person who chooses selfish desires rather than self-control; however, as parents and a community, we should educate ourselves in how we can improve what we do to spot another person in need and help them, rather than simply looking the other way and allowing another person to ruin their lives: either by dropping out of school or by spending too much time in front of the computer. At some point, the obligation of education and morality (desiring to do the right thing no matter what) is essential and necessary.
CG Fewston
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