[Islam-Online- Science, Ideas & Technology]

Violence, crime, and violent crimes are not new to American society. What is new is the use of high-tech advancements in broadcasting that beam scenes into our homes. An example of this is the graphic image that we saw from Littleton, Colorado of two youth storming the campus of their high school with guns blazing. No longer do we have to wait until one of the big networks pick and choose what small town news will make it to the national scene. Indeed, the thirst for sensational news stories is so great that at least two out of the three major networks carry an hour of stories every night detailing incidents of violence, abuse, and various crimes against society. As if competing for the most sensational stories, there are even shows that fix a video camera inside a police cruiser and provide step by step analysis as the alleged suspect is nabbed by police. Families get together and enjoy shows like "America's Most Wanted" or "Cops."
What an irony indeed! At a time in American history when most people live in fear inside their own homes and some prefer not one or two but sometimes three locks on their front doors, TV ratings point to an ironic demand for more 'catch the criminal in action' type programs to be beamed into living rooms across the US. Not satisfied with half-hour programs, the American public knowingly flocks to movie theaters and absorbs scene after scene of people being shot to death or maimed, cars and buildings exploding, and the antagonist of the plot actually emerging victorious after two hours.
What has gone wrong? How is it possible that a nation so advanced in the industrial and technological spheres is so desperately fighting a losing campaign to prevent violence against and by youth? Americans and indeed people all over the world were stunned when live images showed young school children running for their lives in Littleton. The dreadful episode climaxed with the two perpetrators finally turning their guns on themselves, as if to say to society, "you will never be able to ask us what went wrong." Even as the terror was unfolding, educators, legislators, parents and concerned citizens were shown with shocked faces and the same question was being asked: What went wrong?
Professionals from various fields have put forth their answers to the question: What went wrong? Various school officials from around the country reacted by tightening security at the school entrances. Metal detectors and on-site security guards checked each student's backpack as they stepped off the bus and into the school. The teachers were heard blaming the students and their families, calling for more communication between parents and their children. On the other hand, many parents felt that the school officials were too relaxed in their supervision of the students. Legislators wanted new measures to be adopted to regulate gun ownership and usage.
However, human service professionals took a more holistic approach. David B. Pruitt, M.D., president of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) insists that "to prevent further tragedy, educators, legislators, parents, physicians, and other concerned professionals must initiate a long-term dialogue to look at causation issues and action to be taken" (the full text of his statement can be found at www.aacap.org ). This call for a united effort and a long-term dialogue is critical because it includes a key segment of our community: the parents.
While it may seem too obvious, dialogues concerning violence committed by youth

and against youth cannot be complete without the active participation of the families of these youth. Who after all, should be the most knowledgeable about their children? How is it possible that major warning signs, indicating problems with normal development, can be overlooked? One major reason for such glaring gaps between what is expected from a family and what is real is the breakdown in family relations. Just how much is violence among youth related to the breakdown in family life?
Just imagine that in 1996, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN) reported 969,018 cases of violent crimes committed against children. While these numbers may be alarming, quite often we forget that statistics are only as complete as the methods used to gather the data. The NCCAN statistics mentioned above do not include the hundreds of cases of violent crimes that go unreported for various different reasons. It must also be pointed out that the perpetrators are not always the parents, as sometimes caretakers or guardians also commit crimes against children. Thus, the actual number of cases of violent crimes committed against children may be much higher than we can imagine. Estimates gathered from various sources monitoring crimes against children indicate that as many as 5,000 children die each year as a result of mistreatment and abuse from parents or guardians.
Although recent statistics indicate that violence committed by youth is declining, the dilemma is by no means disappearing. Again, the role of the parents in mediating the abnormal and violent behavior of their children cannot be overemphasized. The FBI reported that in 1996, nearly 2900 juveniles were arrested for murder. Similar figures for violent crimes among children are startling. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Juvenile Delinquency Prevention reported that each year 123,400 children are arrested for violent crimes. Violent crimes, when examined over the period of a year may not do justice to the immediacy of the situation. According to the Children's Defense Fund report in 1998, 16 children and youths are killed by firearms everyday in America.
So, We Repeat the Question: What Has Gone Wrong?
Families may not be a panacea for all problems associated with violence among and against youth. However, families play a critical role. How critical? Following World War II, the American family has changed not only in terms of its structure but also in terms of the responsibilities of each parent. Today, there are many more single parent households due to a higher rate of divorce and separation. Even when there are two parents, the responsibilities each parent assumes have changed due to a greater number of mothers preferring to pursue a career outside the household. Due to varying work schedules, the children may have access to only one parent at a time and sometimes neither.
Once a rarity, latch-key kids are now a common phenomenon, even among immigrant and Muslim families. Left alone to fend for themselves after school, these children virtually raise themselves for the few hours when no parents or guardians are available. When the parents do come home, the stress of a full day's work combined with stress related to commuting and traffic jams leaves them with little or no patience to spend quality time with their children. There is substantial evidence that indicates that job-related stress is linked with subsequent breakdown in family relations. Indeed, child abuse and neglect are among the more commonly associated effects.
Quite often, the television serves as a babysitter of sorts, with programs that often seem to have been designed with latch-key kids in mind. An example of this is the quantity of unhealthy doses of violence that a wide variety of cartoon shows and sit-coms have. Another example are the shows hosted by kids that are geared towards kids. The kid hosts teach children everything from how to make crafts from items easily found around the house to do-it-yourself snacks. If not actually watching the television shows, children may occupy themselves with games like Nintendo or with surfing the internet.

Neither is a fruitful alternative to television. On one hand, some of the video games draw the players to actually participate in the creation of gory scenes of murder and mayhem. Meanwhile the internet can open up a world of filth for the children if not equipped with appropriate filtering software. Lastly, if the parents give permission, some children may choose to invite their friends over. Regardless, kids watching kids is not the most ideal situation.
What Can Be Done?
Primarily, the family unit must be restored to its full strength if we are to effectively address the problems of violence by and against youth. According to Islamic beliefs, the family is the foundation of any society. Every strong family contributes to the overall health and well-being of the larger society. The family unit is a source of emotional and material support. Each member of the family is accorded certain rights and responsibilities. The parents have both collective and individual responsibilities and rights. Together, they are responsible for providing a loving and nurturing home environment for the children. The parents in turn enjoy the right to be obeyed as long as obedience does not entail disobedience to God. Children are expected to treat their parents with love and affection, to speak to them with kindness and respect, and to cooperate towards the fulfillment of mutual family obligations.
While the above description of family life may not be new to most parents, actually implementing it poses quite a formidable challenge. Even Muslim families in the US are finding it difficult not to fall into the trap of leaving the children to raise themselves. Given the high costs of merely providing for one's family, most parents prefer to forego the time spent with their children and opt for a part-time job to supplement their income. The additional income may in fact reduce the overall financial stress on the family but the time parents spend away from home drastically increases the risk of neglect. Children may have trouble at school or exhibit warning signs of emotional or physical strain. Parents who are simply not available cannot expect to detect the warning signs. Most often, parents only come to know of the child's problems when it is too late. The two youth who turned a high school's corridors into halls of terror in Littleton did not devise their plans overnight. Investigations have determined that their plan was actually developed over the span of a year. Where were their parents? Didn't anyone observe the warning signs? What went wrong?
While there are many more community-wide initiatives needed to completely rid our society of violence by and against youth, my contention is that the family plays a critical role in the formulation of these initiatives. No child deserves to be harmed. No society can be safe from harmful children. Rather than playing the game of shifting blame, we need to work together. Dr. Pruitt of the AACAP summarized this sentiment best saying, "We must develop prevention programs and provide quality interventions and treatments that will enable America's youth to lead productive, healthy lives-and to be safe in their schools, their homes, and on the streets in their communities."

Society