Kennedy's adage makes sense for Sumter's young people

Back on Oct. 13, what was supposed to be a question was asked of Mayor McElveen. The question was, "You wouldn't have these problems if you had things for these kids to do, it's about prevention." That has really bothered me since I read it in The Item on Oct. 14.

First, I want to make the following observation. I was born in the 1940s and graduated from high school in the 1960s, so that is the time I am talking about. (By the way, I had to provide everything for my sons, that was the 1970s and 80s.)

My parents had to pay for me being born, pay for a place for me to live, pay all heating and cooling (fans -- because we didn't have air-conditioning), pay for my breakfast, lunch and supper (dinner), pay for my medical and dental care, pay for my school supplies, pay for my Christmas gifts, and pay for any entertainment that I wanted, etc.

My, how things have changed. Now taxpayers pay for babies to be born, pay for somewhere for them to live, pay for their heating and air-conditioning, pay for their breakfast, lunch and maybe supper (dinner), pay for medical care, pay for their school supplies, and pay for their Christmas gifts, etc., and now someone wants the taxpayers to provide "something for the kids to do." We have already provided three "Hope Centers" but that doesn't seem to be good enough. Could this be a new "defense tactic?" I haven't heard anyone use it before!

May I suggest that, if the "kids" are still bored, after they come home from school and have done their homework and their chores, providing they have them, that their parents take their "kids" out and introduce them to the idea of a "work detail." They could clean up their neighborhood. (During the summer, they could really get the neighborhood looking great, since they have more time on their hands.) Maybe this would chase the drug dealers out of their neighborhood. Then the "kids" can feel good about themselves and their neighborhood. This will build up their self-esteem so that they can take pride in their neighborhood and their heritage. This will allow for them to realize that they don't have to be concerned with other people's heritage. This would also make them feel like they can make a difference in not only their own lives but in the lives of others in their neighborhood. They would begin to have pride in their neighborhood and learn to take care of it. They could ask drug dealers to help them. If the drug dealers don't want to help out and change their ways, then someone needs to report them to the police.

There are other things these "kids" could do. They could help some elderly person in the neighborhood, or older "kids" could teach younger "kids" to read or help them with their homework. I remember what President Kennedy said, "Ask not what your country (city, community) can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country (city, community)." Sounds good to me. We are running out of people who can take care of people who aren't willing to take care of themselves.

I would love for someone to tell me how we have gotten to the point where taxpayers have to provide "kids" with things to do. Their parents should be providing them with something to do. If they want to grow up and be successful then they need to be doing their homework and learning to make their neighborhood a better place for everyone to live. Please don't tell the "kids" that they are allowed to cause problems and get in trouble because the mayor and taxpayers aren't providing them with something to do. They can find something positive to do, with all that extra time that they have, if they are taught to do so.

J.K. HUTCHINSON
Sumter