I write this letter with much chagrin. I was attending a wedding of a friend’s son this past week at Lake Terrace, and was honestly very happy and content – until I left.
There, standing right in front of the doors to the wedding hall were a group of young children, all probably 9 or 10 years old. One of them was holding a lit cigarette and taking puffs – all right in front of dozens of passing adults. But not one older person said a thing.
I watched in equal parts bafflement and shock as the kid just went on smoking and schmoozing as adult after adult passed by. Nobody cared to step in. I whipped out my phone and began to video the scene – I needed a video to review later myself so I would know that I wasn’t imagining what I was seeing.
I wasn’t imagining it. How horrible and sad.
If a kid were doing the same thing a decade ago, they would be pulled aside by an adult and given a stern talking to. The cigarette would have been seized and the kid would have hopefully learned a lesson. But now, nobody even bats an eyelash.
Firstly, where are the kids parents? How could a young boy be standing in public – in a place where his parents presumably are – and his elders have no idea – or worse, don’t care – what he’s doing?
Secondly, have we all lost our sense of communal responsibility? Do we not see the danger of a child smoking in public – not only to himself, but to all other children who see him too?
What is wrong with us?
Legit relax. Don’t be that person that walls over to smokers and tell them “it’s dangerous” nobody asked you and that’s never stopped someone from smoking. So when you ask what’s wrong with us, the answer is that you want to be the person to wnoy smokers. Telling a smoker “it’s dangerous” never stopped then from smoking.
I saw a 7 year old smoke and his parents said if we say or do anything he’ll call the police for mental or physical abuse.
So we decided to be quiet.
The writer is making it sound like 10 years ago parents just screamed at their kids not to smoke and seized the cigarettes and kids never smoked again.
Because we’ve been told that if we discipline our kids they will go off the derech.
Two good smacks takes care of this problem. Guaranteed to work, it did for me.
Why did you tell them yourself?
I know the kid in that picture. He has no parents sadly. But for sure if I see him smoking next time I’ll say something. Unless you already said something this time. Then I’m sure there won’t be a next time.
Not sure why you’re getting so puffed up (puf, I mean pun intended). It’s just one of those situations where perhaps the best way to handle it is by saying absolutely nothing because chances are whatever you’ll say or do won’t change the situation for the better.. see it for what it is and move on.. yes, children that age should not be smoking but you won’t be able to change that boys mind so forget it!
I am more worried about no one stopping the violent crime in westgate
HE’S HEARD THE SPEECH OVER AND OVER FROM PEOPLE. AT THIS AGE USUALLY THEY WILL NOT REALIZE, HOW DANGEROUS IT IS. HOPEFULLY ONE DAY HE WILL AND….
Why didn’t YOU STOP THEM!!!
Instead you did the same thing
You just take out your phone a video…..
No, the question is what is wrong with you.
Taking video of someone else’s minor child❗
Have you asked the parents permission?!
That would be true communal responsibility!
For some boys it’s a part of the growing up phase in their life. So why are you making such a commotion over something so insignificant ⁉️
Also ur communal responsibility ends at someone else’s children, because it doesn’t take a village to raise a child as Hillary infamously once said!
*IT TAKES PARENTS*
So butt out (pun intended)
and stop trying to impose your will on others!!
this is a good example why people go otd because karens like you think its your buiisness to post videos online and to be a mashgiach this is part of growing up so stop being a karen because he’ll not listen to you anyways.