Problems show that values do matter

Problems show that values do matter

I was rereading the article “Survey: Policies lost touch with changing American families” and thought to myself: what can most of us agree on about this? I think most of us would say support needs to be given to single parent families. But I also think most people would agree that we should be encouraging the young men and women in our lives to be more responsible and respectful of each other.

The more cavalier attitudes toward sex these days is not helping relationships and is creating more situations where individuals are dependent on government. Young girls and women need to see themselves as intrinsically valuable people — their self-esteem should not be based on having a boyfriend. Young boys and men need to understand their own worth as well and to be taught to treat women well. Values do matter and the absence of such is contributing to problems of sexual assault that have made headlines recently in the armed forces and on college campuses.

We may not be able to turn back the hands of time but each of us can influence the young people in our lives.

Patrice Basso

Naperville