VANDALISM Can Be Eliminated

"TEENAGE vandalism has always been considered an expression of disrespect for and hostility toward adults and their standards," explain authors Jane Norman and Myron W. Harris.  While many youths believe that nothing can be done to change the situation, "one out of  3 things that teenage vandalism could be curbed if parents paid more attention to their children, and if teenagers weren't so bored."  the authors reported. While keeping young people occupied and giving them better parental control may reduce vandalism , would that in itself get at the most causes?

When alone, many young people are not troublemakers, yet in a group or in pairs, they may try to get attention, doing foolish and nasty things.  That was the case with Nelson, who under the influence of drugs or alcohol often expressed  his anger and discontent by acts of vandalism. Jose', stirred up by sermons in the Catholic Church about land reform and labor rights, felt that he should take part in strikes and organized vandalism as a means of protest. However,  both Nelson and Jose' found something far better than riots or vandalism.  

Next time: Some Deeper Causes of Vandalism

From the Watchtower magazine, 1999