AP PHOTO/KEITH SRAKOCIC
Voices
signs for them, adorning hallways
with fluorescent notes of encouragement. Young men are known
by their football number, their
last touchdown pass, their ability
to get any girl they choose. Young
women fill the stands with hopeful smiles, dying to be noticed.
We have created this. We have
allowed this. We choose not to
demand more from our young
men, because we see how big they
grow in the spotlight. We give
them adult power, without instilling in them an adult sense of
responsibility and ethics.
Moms, it is time. Now is the time
KIM
SIMON
to make this stop. If you are the
mother of a son, you can prevent
the next Steubenville.
We must teach our boys to be
kind. Teaching empathy, compassion and awareness needs to begin
as early as possible. A toddler can
learn how to use words of kindness:
“Friend, are you OK?” “I’m sorry
friend, did you get a boo-boo?”
Encourage tiny boys to be aware of
how others are feeling. Name what
they see. “Mommy is sad right now,
honey. Our friend G is sick, and I
want her to feel better.” Give children tasks that they can do to help
someone in need. Write letters of
gratitude to take to the local firehouse. Bring dinner to a mother on
bedrest. Choose a toy to share with
HUFFINGTON
03.31.13
Left to right:
Defense
attorney
Adam
Nemann, his
client, Trent
Mays, Ma’lik
Richmond and
his attorney,
Walter
Madison.