Kids today aren't all bad

By Jessie Wentzel

How many times have you overheard someone complaining about kids today?

Complaining about how they have no respect for anything or anyone and they donšt care about anything?

Recently, I overheard a middle-aged couple talking about this issue when two teenagers with skateboards happened to walk into the establishment where they were enjoying their lunch.

A scowl appeared on the woman"s face, and although I was no longer within earshot, I observed that the conversation concerning kids today continued on for quite some time.

I find that many adults, due to ignorance, have a problem with kids today. They see the worst and believe that if one is bad, they all must be bad.

Considering myself one of those Œkids" whom adults have a problem with, I feel it"s only fair that I present my opinion on the matter. I have a problem with parents today.

The root of the problem with kids today stems from parents.

I once believed I would never be like my parents, however, an intellectualization the other day proved me wrong. I have many of my parents" qualities, good and bad. I"m a product of my parents. So are the kids today that everyone likes to pick on.

Everyone has flaws, their different beliefs and different attitudes. But against what we want to believe, unfortunately, we will pick up some of the traits of our parents.

If adults can continuously harass my generation, I have every right to pick on them. If we do not condemn the stuck-up and refuse to change the attitude of adults, how can they continue to condemn the carefree attitude of kids today?

New legislation in Ontario will hold parents financially liable for the crimes of their children. Unless the parent(s) can prove the criminal activity was not intentional or they provided reasonable supervision, they will be required to pay for property damage or loss of up to $6,000 caused by children under 18-years-old.

This legislation has been both criticized and praised. It will put more pressure on parents to teach their kids right from wrong. To help them develop morals and proper beliefs. Whatever could be wrong with this legislation should certainly be outweighed by the fact that parents who have been lacking in the responsibility section of parenting will now have to straighten up and teach their kids to do so as well.