While I was enjoying a much-needed vacation I was shocked to
hear that our beautiful mural on Wentz Ally had been tagged.
While I was enjoying a much-needed vacation I was shocked to hear that our beautiful mural on Wentz Ally had been tagged. There is little doubt in my mind that it was done by young disrespectful punks. It may just be an old wives’ tale but I’ve heard that that even gang-bangers like the ones that left their mark in our men’s room on everything from the walls to the toilet seat cover have respect for a work of art dedicated to all veterans past and present.
Citizens of this county should be concerned that the gang population is growing here and that our children and grandchildren could add to it. There are so many parents commuting to work and single parents working two jobs to stay afloat that our kids wind up being left alone way too often. We baby boomers try way too hard to give our kids what we didn’t have materially and somehow our children’s emotional and physiological needs get neglected.
As I look back now I should have skipped the second job and spent more time at home with my son. I could have stretched my money better making home-cooked meals and skipping the fast food chains and mine and my sons health would have been better for it. Somewhere along the line we also came up with this crazy idea that we needed to be our children’s friend more than their parent – which really caused things to go sideways. By the grace of God my son is doing well today but things could easily have turned out different. The fruit of our misguided efforts is very evident in today’s society. A lot of children and young adults today do not believe that they should have to wait for anything. Everything is “my way” and “right now” for them. The word respect does not exist in their vocabulary.
I’m not saying all kids are like this but I see an overwhelming number of them on the streets, in the grocery store, at Blockbuster and at Target. The young ones are screaming because they can’t have what they want and the older ones are knocking things off shelves and leaving them on the floor and cussing at their parents. I’m blown away. I would never have considered acting that way because my mother would have smacked me. Oh yes, she raised her hand to me, something that our government has made down right illegal.
Today, kids will report their parents to the authorities and have them arrested if they don’t like the way they are being disciplined. I had a healthy fear of my mother and even though I spoiled my son there were things he just would not think about doing because he knew there would be consequences. Today, teacher’s hands are tied in handling unruly children because some irate parent that doesn’t discipline their child will sue them. The good book says spare the rod and spoil the child. I’ll take God’s word about how I should raise my child over the governments any day.
With so many folk’s unemployed and our economy in the toilet I see it as an opportunity to get back to basics. Parents that find them selves at home looking for employment can offer to help out their neighbors. Run an after school program on your block. Help kids with their homework and then here’s a novel idea take them outside for some exercise. Have a dodge ball or basket game in your court. Plan a potluck dinner and ask everyone to bring one home cooked item. Have a game night and turn off the darn boob tube. Take away their video games for one or two nights a week and interact with them. And for God’s sake do not let them have the bloody and violent games that I have seen advertised on TV. Let’s take this generation back.
The City of Hollister has very little to offer its children to keep them occupied and out of trouble. Due to cut backs beneficial programs like the Drug Abuse and Resistance Education Program (DARE), Youth Academy, Citizen Police Academy and The Neighborhood Watch have all been eliminated. Thankfully the Juvenile Impact Program that Measure T helped fund has been reinstated. With that said, I don’t think it’s our government’s job to raise our kids. They tell us it is but I for one do not buy into that. We can’t pray in school any more and yet we’re told that our children should be educated on alternative lifestyles.
The government has gone way too far. It’s time for citizens to throw down the gauntlet. Be proactive. Pay attention to the laws that are being passed and VOTE. Too many of us sat on the side lines for way too long, me included. I’d like to see Hollister as the city that cares. If you see someone destroying property get involved. Call the police and report it.
I know there are people out there that know who defaced our mural and I wish they would come forward so that the culprits can be punished. If you’d like to help us bring our mural back to its previous glory join us Veterans Day November 11 from noon to 4 p.m. for a BBQ and rededication celebration. The proceeds will help pay to fly the artist Ron Rocha here from Texas to make the repairs. Our previous Veterans Day BBQ’s have helped fund the parade and any left over funds will go that cause. There is also the traditional BBQ at the Veterans Hall and we have always managed to compliment each other. So come downtown and watch the parade, have some great food and show your respect and gratitude for our veterans.
P.S.: I am adding a surveillance camera to the ally to catch any hoodlums that do this again.
Charisse Tyson is the owner of Johnny’s Bar & Grill.
