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Letters
We must take steps to curb the violence
We are outraged at both the deaths in Littleton, Colorado and the killing of good innocent people such as the three women in Yosemite. We can stop these tragedies. What creates this monstrous behavior by human beings toward other human beings?
To stop a stubborn problem, one must interfere at multiple places along the chain of events which generate this behavior.
We must see to it that people who need help get it; we must provide both tender and tough love. We must watch the behavior of others for signs of willingness to be violent, watch for signs of willingness to deliver verbal abuse, and be willing to speak up on little slights as well as big ones.
We must be willing to ourselves counsel both child and parents, and support the hiring of professional counselors. We must minimize the availability of guns. We must see to it that quality education is provided for all, and that teachers have the time to deal with violence-prone behavior.
We must see to it that our neighbor's life is healthy. We must see to it that the early childhood formative years are trauma-free and affectionate, see to it that nutrition is good in early childhood, and see to it that prenatal care is sound. For crimes of older criminals, we need a truly correctional system which provides fundamental lessons for inmates on civilized ways to live together, and not the death penalty.
Our great religious leaders both urge and demand that the above steps be taken. The steps are in our own best interest.
Society has failed to take these steps, and so monsters grow in our midst. Society must accept some of the blame, while the miscreant must carry the primary guilt.
These remedial steps are not unduly costly. The process requires our awakening and understanding of the errors we are making even as we sorrow today.
Charles Walton
Correction
In the April 28 article on city councilwoman Jeanette Watson, the Reporter published an incorrect spelling of Watson's maiden name. Her maiden name is Jeanette Gomes. The Campbell Reporter regrets the error.
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Campbell, California
